Oakland Man Sentenced To Over Thirteen Years In Prison For Carjacking And Robbery

OAKLAND - Patrick Fiammetta-McConnell was sentenced today to 157 months in federal prison for carjacking, robbery, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag.

McConnell, 31, of Oakland, California, pleaded guilty on November 19, 2012, to carjacking, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 2119; interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii); one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

According to court documents, McConnell admitted that on July 27, 2011, he and codefendant Ismael Eduardo Axtle each used a firearm in the course of a carjacking and robbery of a San Francisco parking garage employee. Days after this incident, on August 1, 2011, McConnell was caught with a stolen vehicle and 40 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. McConnell initially fled on foot from law enforcement officers, but was ultimately apprehended carrying several baggies of methamphetamine which he admitted he was planning to sell. Officers later found a .40 caliber handgun in the trunk of yet another stolen vehicle in McConnell’s possession.

United States District Court Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong imposed McConnell's 157-month sentence and ordered him to begin serving his time immediately. Judge Armstrong also sentenced McConnell to 4 years of supervised release to follow his term of imprisonment. Axtle pleaded guilty on May 14, 2013, to robbing the parking garage as well as other unrelated crimes, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Armstrong on July 30, 2013.

Brigid Martin of is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathleen Turner. The conviction and sentence were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force, California Highway Patrol, Oakland Police Department, and San Francisco Police Department.