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Press Release

Detroit Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

DETROIT – Deloneo Breham, 32, of Detroit, MI, was sentenced in federal court for carjacking and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Breham was sentenced by United States District Judge Nancy Edmunds to 235 months in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release. Breham has been in custody since his arrest in February 2021.

Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division.

“Carjackers create an unacceptable risk of physical harm or death and erode the overall sense of safety and security in our community,” stated US Attorney Ison.  “We are committed to bringing the full weight of the justice system to bear on individuals who are making our neighborhoods unsafe and who prey upon our citizens.”

“People who were just living their lives — doing ordinary things each of us has done thousands of times — were terrorized because this defendant wanted a car. No one should have to live in fear of something like that,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division. “Breham’s sentence should be a warning to anyone who commits a carjacking that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will find you and we will hold you accountable.” 

According to court records, during the early morning hours of February 22, 2021, Breham approached a man pumping gas into his truck at a gas station on Gratiot Avenue in Detroit. Breham—armed with a handgun—told the victim to give him the keys to the truck. When the victim refused, Breham shot him in the leg. While Breham tried to open the driver’s door, the victim—a lawful CPL holder—retrieved his own firearm and shot Breham. Breham fled the scene on foot. Detroit Police responded within seven minutes and found Breham hiding in a bush nearby.

Additional facts presented to the court established that six months before the February 2021 carjacking, Breham carjacked a woman at her home. On August 31, 2020, the victim arrived home with her minor children to find Breham inside her house, armed with a gun. Breham pointed his gun at the victim and demanded the keys to her car. When the woman hesitated, Breham told her “I don’t want to do this in front of your kids.” The victim gave Breham the keys to her car and he left the house. The victim’s car was recovered from the Suez motel on Eight mile the following day.

The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Barbara Lanning and Diane Princ.

Updated May 3, 2022

Topic
Violent Crime