MINNEAPOLIS — Federal prosecutors say a Minneapolis man has been sentenced for putting “several lives at risk” during an armed carjacking spree last March.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Javon Wilson-Branch, 19, has been sentenced to just over 10 years in federal prison. He’s also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,100 in restitution.
Wilson-Branch carjacked three vehicles in less than 24 hours. The first carjacking occurred at 8 p.m. on March 16 in Minneapolis. Wilson-Branch threatened two victims with an assault rifle and stole their SUV.
At about 4 a.m. the next morning, Wilson-Branch pulled up next to a driver in an SUV in Minneapolis and stole the vehicle from the victim at gunpoint. Officials say an AirTag in the stolen vehicle showed that it was driven to St. Paul and abandoned at around 4:30 a.m.
Thirty minutes later, Wilson-Branch carjacked a victim in a car. Again, firearms were used to intimidate the victims into handing over the vehicle’s keys and other valuable items.
Wilson-Branch and an accomplice accused of the same crimes drove away in separate stolen vehicles.
St. Paul police spotted the two carjacked vehicles a half hour later near Maryland Avenue and Western Avenue. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the drivers fled from the pursuit at high rates of speed.
“This individual put several lives at risk by going on an armed carjacking spree and evading law enforcement by driving 120 miles per hour through a residential neighborhood,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said. “This case offers a snapshot of a disturbing trend of violent and reckless behavior. Wilson-Branch’s spree is one of the reasons our office has focused our resources on prosecuting violent carjacking cases.”
The stolen car was later located by Woodbury police in a mall parking lot. Wilson-Branch was arrested in another building after a short foot chase, according to officials.
“Two of the firearms used in the carjackings, each fully loaded with high-capacity magazines, and a recently stolen box of ammunition, were located inside the [car], along with the keys to the previously carjacked [SUV],” the attorney’s office said.
Wilson later pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting carjacking. He also admitted to aiding and abetting a third carjacking.
The investigation into the case was conducted by the FBI as well as the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Woodbury police departments.
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