Defendant Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Violent Spree Of Gunpoint Carjackings

Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"); and Jessica Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), announced that ROBERT FELIX-ARACENA was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels to 10 years in prison for conspiring to commit a series of gunpoint carjackings in Manhattan, the Bronx, and elsewhere in 2020, and for a related firearms offense.

Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: "Robert Felix-Aracena and his co-defendants engaged in a violent, armed carjacking spree that endangered lives and terrorized victims. Felix-Aracena, like his co-defendants, is now being held accountable for his actions. Today's sentence is a reminder that this Office will relentlessly investigate and prosecute those who seek to inflict violence on our communities."

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: "This sentencing for these brazen armed carjackings should serve as a clear warning that such criminal acts will never be tolerated. ATF remains steadfast in its commitment to working together with our partners to identify, investigate, and apprehend the most violent offenders in our communities. I want to thank the men and women of the ATF/NYPD SPARTA Task Force, the NYPD Manhattan Robbery Squad, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for bringing these individuals to justice. We will dedicate all necessary resources to continue collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure our streets remain safe."

According to the Indictment and statements made in public court documents and proceedings:

In October and November 2020, FELIX-ARACENA and a group of other individuals participated in a series of armed carjackings in Manhattan, the Bronx, and elsewhere. That group also included co-defendant CHRISTIAN CRUZ, who was sentenced earlier this year to 10 years in prison; co-defendant ANDRES CAICEDO, who was sentenced last month to four years in prison; and co-defendant JOSE LAVANDIER, who was previously sentenced to three years in prison. In particular:

• On October 22, 2020, CAICEDO and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking in the Bronx. As a co-conspirator brandished a firearm at the victim, CAICEDO took marijuana, cash, and the victim's car keys from the victim.
• On November 1, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in the Bronx. FELIX-ARACENA, armed with a TEC-9 firearm, and another carjacker took the vehicle from the victims, with FELIX-ARACENA brandishing a firearm and firing a shot near the foot of one of the victims in the process.
• On November 3, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in Brooklyn. The group was driving the vehicle they had carjacked two days earlier, and CRUZ was armed with, and brandished, the TEC-9. That same day, the stolen vehicle was recovered in the Bronx by law enforcement, after FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and the other carjackers fled from law enforcement in the stolen vehicle and on foot.
• On November 7, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from multiple victims in Manhattan. The other carjackers, armed with a firearm, approached the victims and took their vehicle, while FELIX-ARACENA and another carjacker remained in the getaway vehicle.
• During the evening of November 10, 2020, and the early morning hours of November 11, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in three gunpoint carjackings and an attempted carjacking.
• Finally, on November 13, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in Manhattan. FELIX-ARACENA, armed with a defaced firearm, and another individual took the vehicle from the victims, while the other carjackers remained in the getaway vehicle. The stolen vehicle was located a few hours later, at which time FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER and the others attempted to flee in the stolen vehicle before crashing into a nearby parked car. FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER, and the others then fled on foot.

* * *

In addition to the prison term, FELIX-ARACENA, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the NYPD, in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD.

This case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Z. Margulies and Jonathan L. Bodansky are in charge of the prosecution.