Felon Sentenced To 91 Months In Federal Prison For Carjacking During 2020 Protests

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Damion Lemont Hayes, 21, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced by United States District Judge David J. Hale on Thursday, February 4, 2021, to 91 months’ imprisonment followed by a 3 year term of Supervised Release for his role in a carjacking that occurred during protest activity in Louisville last year, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett.

“The commitment and partnership between federal law enforcement and LMPD in the fight against violent crime, which includes the extremely dangerous act of carjacking, is very strong,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett.  “Like this defendant, those who carjack and threaten the safety of others will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted.”     

“Over the summer, a number of individuals attempted to exploit the unrest in Louisville by committing violent crimes for their own personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown, FBI Louisville Field Office. “Mr. Hayes was one such person.  Mr. Hayes’ arrest, conviction, and ultimately his 91-month sentence shows that FBI Louisville and its partners are committed to fostering safe communities by removing violent offenders from our neighborhoods.  We simply will not, and cannot, tolerate carjackings in our city.”

“Recently, ATF joined the U.S. Attorney, our federal law enforcement partners and LMPD to address the recent and disturbing uptick in carjackings,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “This is a violent crime that threatens the safety of our community. ATF will continue to leverage all our resources to combat crimes with guns and seek justice for innocent victims.”

On October 26, 2020, Hayes pleaded guilty in United States District Court to the single count of the Indictment charging him with carjacking in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 2119 and 2.  Specifically, Hayes admitted to taking a 2017 Subaru Forester on June 3, 2020, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, by force, violence, and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm for the identified victim.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Hayes was ordered to pay victim restitution in the amount of $ 20,117.81.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case.

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