Two Essex County Men Charged with Carjacking and Firearm Posssesion

NEWARK, N.J. –Two Essex County, New Jersey, men have been charged with carjacking a vehicle in Newark, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Arraqeeb Williamscook, 23, of East Orange, New Jersey, and Washir Singletary, 30, of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking and one count of carjacking. Singletary is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge José Almonte in Newark federal court on March 9, 2024, and were detained.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 9, 2023, the victim was waiting for his pick-up order at a restaurant in Newark.  The victim was pumping air into the front passenger side tire while waiting for his food order when Williamscook and Singletary pulled into the parking lot in a Lexus that had been stolen out of Wall Township, New Jersey. Williamscook got out of the Lexus and entered the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. When the victim approached Williamscook, Williamscook brandished what appeared to be a firearm. As the victim ran into the restaurant to call for help, Singletary got out of the Lexus and changed places with Williamscook in the victim’s vehicle. Singletary drove away in the victim’s vehicle. Williamscook was apprehended in the restaurant parking lot attempting to flee in the stolen Lexus. Shortly after, Singletary returned to the restaurant parking lot with an unidentified conspirator in the victim’s car to retrieve the stolen Lexus. The unidentified conspirator drove away in the victim’s car and Singletary drove away in the stolen Lexus. Singletary was later apprehended after abandoning the stolen Lexus. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a Ruger/Strum revolver.      

The count of conspiracy to commit carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and members of the Newark City Police Department, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ingrid Eicher of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.