Newark Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Armed Carjacking

NEWARK, NJ—An Essex County, N.J., man today admitted his role in a carjacking conspiracy, including stealing a car at gunpoint, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.

Gregory Brown, 20, of Newark, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit carjacking; theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court.

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

Brown admitted to conspiring with other individuals from November 2010 through February 2011 to carjack vehicles in and around New Jersey in order to profit by reselling them, use them to carjack other vehicles and take personal items from the occupants of the carjacked vehicles. He acknowledged his co-conspirators had been involved in the carjacking of at least two dozen vehicles in New Jersey, and collectively received several thousand dollars for each resold vehicle.

On Jan. 10, 2011, Brown and others approached a victim, “A.G.,” who was standing near a Nissan Maxima on Park Avenue in Newark, and at gunpoint, ordered A.G. to surrender the keys to the Maxima and other personal items. Brown and the other co-conspirators took the Maxima and fled.

The charge of conspiracy to which Brown pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The charge of carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, to run consecutive to any other prison term. Each of the three counts also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing before Judge Salas is scheduled for May 11, 2012.

These charges are part of a cooperative effort between federal, state, county and local law enforcement to address carjackings in and around Essex County.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Violent Crimes/Fugitive Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; the Newark Police Department, under the leadership of Director Samuel DeMaio and Chief Sheila A. Coley; and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane H. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Anyone who has information which may be relevant to this case is encouraged to contact the Newark Division of the FBI at 973-792-3000.

Defense counsel: Kenneth W. Kayser Esq., East Hanover, N.J.