A Detroit man was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison following his guilty plea to armed carjacking, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Paul Abbate, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson also ordered that Vantanez Trotter serve five years of supervised release following his release from custody. Trotter’s sentence will begin after he completes a state sentence for assault to commit great bodily harm that he is currently serving.

The evidence in the case showed that on December 8, 2012, the owner of a 2013 Mercedes and his cousin sat in the car outside of a house on Evergreen in Detroit. As the two spoke, a Ford Focus parked in front of them. Two men, each armed with an AK-47 type rifle and wearing masks, emerged from the Focus and ordered the victims out of the car and to the ground. Trotter drove away in the Mercedes and the other man drove away in the Focus.

Detroit Police officers responded and located the Mercedes using location software. Trotter fled and stopped the car in Ecorse, where he fled on foot and was apprehended after short chase. Along his path, police recovered an AK-47 type rifle that was loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.

United States Attorney Barbara McQuade stated: “Armed carjacking is a priority for federal prosecution because of the danger and fear that it creates for motorists. Federal convictions for carjacking bring long prison sentences that we hope will deter criminals from committing this crime.”

The cooperative efforts of the Detroit Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime task Force were recognized and applauded by U.S. Attorney McQuade. Assistant United States Attorneys John O’Brien and Jeanine Brunson of the office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit prosecuted the case for the United States.