Ramsey Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison for Violent Carjackings

MINNEAPOLIS – A Ramsey man has been sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,918.28 in restitution for his role in a string of carjacking and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, on January 3, 2022, Jordan James Smith, 27, approached an individual who was sitting in a parked vehicle. Smith opened the driver’s door of the victim’s Nissan Juke and pushed a gun into the victim’s torso. Smith then stated, “I’ve got a [expletive] gun,” and directed the victim to “give me everything you have and get out of the car.” Smith pulled the victim from the car, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off. The victim’s phone and wallet were still in the car as Smith fled. On January 10, 2022, Smith and an associate used the victim’s Nissan Juke as collateral to test drive a black Maserati. Smith and his associate abandoned the Nissan Juke and stole the black Maserati before being apprehended by law enforcement.

On February 3, 2022, Smith and his co-defendant Carson Thomas McCoy, 22, of Blaine, along with other associates, broke into a local car dealership. The group stole several vehicles, including an unlicensed GMC Acadia. Later that morning, at 8:30 a.m., McCoy—who was driving the stolen GMC Acadia—ran a stop sign and struck another vehicle. McCoy abandoned the GMC Acadia and ran to another vehicle being driven by Smith. However, before leaving the area, Smith approached the vehicle McCoy hit, pointed a gun at the driver, and said “give me your purse or I’ll [expletive] kill you.” Smith then returned to his vehicle and fled the scene with the victim’s iPhone, housekeys, and a child’s backpack.

Shortly thereafter, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Smith noticed the driver of a silver Honda Accord parked in a nearby residential area. Smith and McCoy exited the blue Honda Accord and approached the silver Honda Accord. Smith tapped on the driver’s side window with his gun. The driver of the silver Honda Accord exited the vehicle and, as the driver attempted to retrieve a wallet, Smith threatened the driver with his gun. Smith and McCoy then drove off in the silver Honda Accord.  Smith was apprehended later that same day on an unrelated warrant. Because Smith has prior felony convictions, he was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Smith pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023, to two counts of carjacking. He was sentenced earlier this week in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim. McCoy will be sentenced on January 3, 2024.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Blaine Police Department, the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.