UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ALICE H. MARTIN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: KAREN NARAMORE
	MARCH 5, 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2001
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

ARMED CAR-JACKERS SENTENCED

            BIRMINGHAM, AL - ERIC TERRELL CARPENTER, 27, of Birmingham, and DEMETRIS TUCKER, 23, of Bessemer, have been sentenced by United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler, for car-jacking a 2003 Cadillac Deville and using a firearm in furtherance of that crime. CARPENTER was also sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. CARPENTER received a sentence of 121 months and TUCKER received a sentence of 114 months.

            “We are pleased with Judge Coogler’s sentence which clearly tells would be carjackers that years of federal prison face them if they commit this violent crime” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.  “I commend ATF and my prosecutors on this outstanding result”. 

            On April 23, 2008, CARPENTER and TUCKER carjacked an individual at 1556 Cleveland Avenue Southwest in Birmingham.  CARPENTER was armed with a firearm and pointed it at the victim during the course of the carjacking.  CARPENTER was arrested shortly after the commission of the crime and TUCKER was arrested the following day.  Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charged crimes on November 19, 2008.

            “This case should send a message to armed violent offenders that car-jacking crimes are taken very seriously,” stated Busey Ward, Resident Agent in Charge, Birmingham Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. “This combined effort between the state and federal agencies has removed some extremely dangerous individuals from the community.”

            Task Force Agents of the Birmingham Police Department assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted the investigation of this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Scarlett M. Singleton prosecuted the matter on behalf of the United States.