Baltimore Man with Prior Felony Convictions Exiled to 37 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Maurice Spriggs, age 32, of Baltimore, today to 37 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for carjacking, brandishing a gun during the carjacking and being a felon in possession of a gun. Judge Quarles enhanced Sprigg’s sentence upon finding that he is an armed career criminal and career offender based on five previous convictions for violent crimes or drug offenses. Spriggs was convicted at trial on March 10, 2010.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

“Maurice Spriggs, a 32 year old man who drew a 37 year sentence, joins the cavalcade of Baltimore City criminals now spending decades in federal prison with no probation and no parole for gun crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “He pulled a gun to steal a few dollars and take a car for a few hours, and now he will spend more than 13,000 days and nights in a concrete prison cell far from home.”

According to testimony at the three day trial, on February 1, 2009 a man was driving near the Rite Aid store located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and West Saratoga Street in Baltimore City when he was approached by two men who asked him for a ride in exchange for money. The driver agreed to give the other two men a ride and they got into his car. Both men pulled out guns. The driver gave them his money and quickly got out of the car. The two men immediately drove away in the victim’s car. The victim went inside the store and called 911.

Police broadcast an alert. Later that evening, two Baltimore Police officers spotted the victim’s car on Monroe Street. The officers stopped the stolen car at the intersection of Carey and Baltimore streets. Spriggs was driving the car, and was arrested. Officers seized a loaded revolver from Spriggs. The next day the victim identified Spriggs as one of the men who stole his car.

Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cheryl Crumpton and Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who prosecuted this case.