FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:  DAVILYN WALSTON
MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008                                              PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe                         PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881

JURY FINDS PORT ARTHUR COUPLE GUILTY
OF FEDERAL CARJACKING CHARGES

BEAUMONT, TX -    United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced today that a man and woman from Port Arthur have been found guilty by a jury for charges related to a December carjacking in the Eastern District of Texas. 

JOHN FITZGERALD RICE, JR., 23, and SARAH LYNN CORMIER, 21, both of Port Arthur, were found guilty today by a jury for their role in a December 2007 carjacking.  The week-long jury trial was held before United States District Judge Thad Heartfield.   

            According to information presented in court, on December 18, 2007, the defendants followed a Groves woman from a Port Neches gas station to her home.  She was abducted from her driveway and threatened at gunpoint.  The victim was ordered into the passenger seat of her vehicle and the defendants had her withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine before releasing her and leaving with her vehicle.

            The defendants were both convicted of one count of conspiring to take a motor vehicle which had been shipped in interstate commerce by force and intimidation with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm; one count of car-jacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  Rice was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  In 2005, Rice was convicted of 2 counts of robbery in Jefferson County and is thereby prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition

            Four additional defendants have already pled guilty for their involvement in the incident:
JOSHUA JEROME HAYWARD, aka BRANDON METOYER, 19, of Port Arthur, and WILLIAM GENE STANTON, 20, of Nederland, each pleaded guilty to carjacking.  They both face up to 15 years in federal prison.  ALDRAIN JERAY BOOKER, 21, and KEISHA GUIDRY, 19, both of Nederland, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit carjacking.  They both face up to 5 years in federal prison.  Sentencing dates have not been set.

            This case is being investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Englade and David H. Henderson.

           
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