Cleveland Heights man sentenced to 32 years in prison for carjackings in Cleveland

A Cleveland Heights man was sentenced to 32 years in prison for six carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

Tervon’tae Taylor participated in six carjackings in July and August 2015, often brandishing a firearm during the crime.

Four defendants, all from Cleveland, have already been sentenced for their roles in the case.

Kenneth Jackson, Jr. was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison. Antowine Palmer was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. He is also serving 15 years in state prison for convictions for manslaughter and felonious assault.

D’wan Dillard, Jr. was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. Calvin Rembert was sentenced to six years in prison.

Some of defendants were members of the Heartless Felons street gang and were feuding with a different set of Heartless Felons. The defendants planned to do drive-by shootings aimed at members of the rival group, so they went to Tremont to steal a car so they would be unrecognizable during the drive-by shootings.

“These defendants have collectively been sentenced to more than 130 years in prison,” Herdman said. “With our federal, state and local partners, we are committed to pursuing those who target our citizens with violence and fear, whether they’re online, overseas or on the streets of Cleveland.”

“These men terrorized victims and the city with their dangerous, gun-wielding car thefts,” Anthony said. “The Violent Crime Task Force and our local partners are committed to aggressively investigate predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against our citizens.”

“The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe for all who live, work and play in our city,” Williams said. “These sentences send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland Division of Police.