
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies targeting Uber and Lyft drivers, with a fourth man scheduled to be sentenced next week.
The crimes happened in September and October 2021. According to court documents, Shevirio Childs-Young, 20, William Saffold, 21, Javeyon Tate, 23, and Eric Knight, 20, conspired to lure drivers to preplanned locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the drivers arrived, the defendants carjacked the drivers at gunpoint, beating and pistol-whipping them. The men demanded keys, wallets, and cell phones and forced the drivers to unlock their phones and provide passcodes, which the men then used to access and steal money from the drivers’ Cash App and other accounts.
In May of 2022, while attempting to execute an arrest warrant, an FBI agent approached Saffold, who immediately drew a pistol and pointed it at the agent before fleeing on foot.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to use, carry, and brandish firearms during crimes of violence. Saffold also pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer.
The three men received sentences ranging between five and eight years. Saffold is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said the men’s crimes contributed to a recent sharp increase in violent carjackings throughout the Twin Cities in recent years.
“The residents of Minneapolis have dealt with violent crime for far too long,” said Minneapolis Police Chief, Brian O’Hara. “The sentencing of these individuals sends a clear message: anyone who chooses to use violence and terror for personal gain will be held accountable.”
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