Aug. 31, 2010

TOPEKA MAN SENTENCED IN CARJACKING

TOPEKA, KAN. – William J. Bell, 34, Topeka, Kan., has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for carjacking, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Bell pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking. In his plea, he admitted that on Jan. 8, 2010, he and another man got a ride from a Topeka man. While they were in the man’s car, they took his car keys, wallet, money, credit card and cellular phone before forcing him out of the car. The stolen car, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, was recovered later in the hands of two bank robbers in Kansas City, who told investigators they got the car from a man they didn’t know.

When Bell was arrested in Missouri a few days after the carjacking, he was carrying a key to the stolen car and the driver’s stolen wallet.

Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.