Skip to main content
Press Release

Armed Highlands County Carjackers Sentenced to Prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

MIAMI – U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon has sentenced Artavis Spivey, 21, of Winter Haven, Fla., and Daniel Zamot, 18, of Avon Park, Fla., to prison for armed carjacking. Spivey received 175 months in prison and Zamot received 70 months. Spivey received enhancements to his sentence for reckless endangerment during flight and obstruction of justice.

Spivey and Zamot both previously pled guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to the court record, on February 17, 2022, at approximately 12:37 p.m., law enforcement received a 911 call advising that an armed carjacking had just taken place at Highlands Advanced Rheumatology and Arthritis Center in Avon Park. Law enforcement interviewed the victim of the carjacking, “J.S.” According to her statement, she was sitting inside her 2018 Lincoln MKC in the Highlands Rheumatology parking lot when a man, later determined to be Spivey, armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, approached her and demanded the keys to her vehicle. J.S. complied and gave Spivey her keys, after which he demanded her cellphone, which she also gave him.  Spivey then told J.S. to exit and walk to the back of the vehicle and threatened to shoot her.

J.S. described Spivey as a black male with a slender build wearing sweatpants, a red or orange hooded jacket, and a facemask with holes for his eyes and mouth. J.S. stated that a second man, later determined to be Zamot, described as a heavier set black male, was standing at the rear of her vehicle when she was robbed. Zamot also was wearing sweatpants, a red or orange hooded jacket, and a facemask with holes for his eyes and mouth. Spivey and Zamot fled the scene in J.S.’s vehicle. 

Law enforcement was able to track J.S.’s vehicle and learned that it was in Lee County, Fla. At approximately 3 p.m., law enforcement located the Lincoln and attempted to conduct a traffic stop in north Fort Myers, Fla. A vehicle pursuit ensued, during which Spivey and Zamot drove through several yards and almost crashed into another vehicle. They ultimately crashed into a patch of bushes. Spivey exited the vehicle from the front driver’s side and Zamot exited the vehicle from the passenger’s side. Both Spivey and Zamot fled on foot and were apprehended a short time later.  Spivey was wearing a red hooded jacket when he was arrested.

While searching the vehicle, law enforcement recovered, among other things, two ski masks from behind the front passenger’s seat and a loaded black H&K 9mm semi-automatic firearm with an extended magazine between the driver’s seat and center console. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Polk County, Fla. A loaded Cobra, .380 caliber semi-automatic firearm was found in the bushes where Zamot exited the vehicle. This particular firearm was reported stolen out of Osceola County, Fla. 

Spivey had been released from prison on separate felony convictions on January 30, 2022, just 18 days before he and Zamot committed the armed carjacking.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; acting Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman; and Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno made the announcement.

FBI, Fort Pierce Field Office, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted it.

You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-14026.  

Contact

Public Affairs Unit
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov

Updated November 18, 2022

Topics
Violent Crime
Firearms Offenses