Utah Felon Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison For Armed Carjacking Of Elderly Woman

RENO, Nev. – A felon was sentenced today to 192 months in federal prison for an armed carjacking in a casino parking garage last year, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Andrew Brigman, 29, of Layton, Utah, previously pleaded guilty to use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He has prior felony convictions for attempted theft, aggravated assault, and theft and assault by a prisoner, all in Utah. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du sentenced him to five years of supervised release.

On July 6, 2017, Brigman and a child approached an elderly woman as she exited her car in a casino parking garage in Sparks. He pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the woman and demanded she hand over her car, phone, and credit cards. She gave him the key fob for her car. Brigman did not know how to operate the car with the key fob, so she had to show him how to start the car. He and the child left in the stolen vehicle. In an attempt to locate Brigman and the child, Sparks Police Department sent out media releases with composite sketches and images of the stolen vehicle. An Amber alert was also issued for the child.

On July 14, the Sparks Police Department received a tip that identified Brigman as the possible suspect of the armed carjacking. A few days later, the stolen vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in Alamosa County, Colo. Brigman, a woman, and her four children were in the vehicle. The child who accompanied Brigman during the armed carjacking was found safe in the car. During a search of the vehicle, a .38 semiautomatic pistol was found in the glove box.

The case was investigated by the Sparks Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow prosecuted the case.

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