U.S. Department
of Justice
Two Birmingham Men Plead Guilty to Using a Firearm During a Carjacking in Homewood, AL
BIRMINGHAM –Two Birmingham men pled guilty in federal court to carjacking and the use of a firearm during a violent crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
KEVIN ELICE PAYNE, 20, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre today to one count of carjacking and one count of using a firearm in relation to a violent crime, in Jefferson County, Alabama, on October 5 2018. PAYNE’S co-defendant, KENMARIOUS MARKEON FAULKNER, 18, plead guilty to the same charges yesterday. The sentencing for PAYNE and FAULKNER is scheduled for April 17th.
“These violent defendants have been brought to justice and they will have plenty of time in a federal prison to pay for their crimes”, Town said. “These crimes are far too prevalent in the Northern District and thus our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies will remain in their phalanx to not only police violent crime, but defeat it.”
“Thanks to the work of the Homewood Police Department these dangerous and violent criminals were quickly taken into custody and have now admitted to their crimes,” Sharp said. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to address this type of violent crime.”
On October 5, 2018, the victim was shopping at the Walmart Supercenter on Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood, Alabama. As the victim got into her vehicle, PAYNE and FAULKNER prevented her from closing the door. Wearing a ski mask and brandishing a pistol, PAYNE explained, “I’ll blow your head off if you don’t give me your money.” PAYNE and FAULKNER then grabbed the victim and forcibly removed her from the vehicle. The assailants then stole the victim’s car and sped away. Shortly thereafter, Homewood Police Department alerted patrol officers to be on the lookout for the victim’s vehicle. Moments later, the car was spotted by an officer traveling on I-65 North. Following a lengthy pursuit, officers rammed the fleeing vehicle, causing it to crash. PAYNE and FAULKNER were immediately taken into custody.
The maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed for the crime.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case along with Homewood Police Department, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Felton prosecuted.