Monday, March 4, 2024

WASHINGTON – Adam West, 18, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced, on March 1, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to 60 months in prison for one count of armed carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The government asked for 96 months along with three years of supervised release.

            Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur also ordered three years of supervised release and probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

            According to the evidence, the victim was sitting in his Dodge Charger at a gas station, when West approached him, made a gesture by patting his waist as if he had a weapon and said, “You know what this is; don’t make me kill you.” He demanded that the victim get out of the car and, when the victim complied, West went through his pockets to get the key fob and drove off onto Benning Road NE.

            Officers responded to the 3300 block of Benning Road, in Northeast D.C., to reports of an armed carjacking. The stolen vehicle was later seen by officers fleeing in the direction of Benning Road and East Capitol Street, NE. Officers, including the DC helicopter unit, followed the vehicle into Prince George’s County, Maryland. The defendant drove back into D.C., with officers in pursuit, and later crashed the vehicle. West was arrested at the scene. 

            West pleaded guilty to carjacking and unrelated robbery charges on December 14, 2023.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Lawrence, who investigated and prosecuted the case.