Armed Carjacker Is Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. yesterday sentenced Unique Bajon Bennett, 26, of Charlotte, to 144 months for carjacking and gun charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.

According to court documents filed in Bennett’s case, on November 7, 2018, Bennett and a co-conspirator approached a victim, identified in court documents as M.R., in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Lodge South Circle in Charlotte. Bennett and his co-conspirator pointed a firearm at M.R., ordered M.R. to put his hands in the air, and stole the victim’s wallet, driver’s license, debit card, and a car key. Bennett and his co-conspirator then fled the scene in M.R.’s vehicle.

In a second incident, on November 16, 2018, Bennett and his co-defendant, Zachary Morris, approached another victim, identified in court documents as I.F., in an apartment complex parking lot on Countryside Drive in Charlotte.  Bennett and Morris pointed a firearm at the victim and demanded the keys to her Toyota Prius.  Bennett drove off in the vehicle with Morris in the passenger seat.  Bennett and Morris were apprehended on the same day by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers.

On July 25, 2019, Bennett pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking, and to brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Morris was previously sentenced to nine years for his role in the carjacking on November 16. 

Bennett is currently in federal custody. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigation into Bennett. U.S. Attorney Murray also thanked CMPD for their invaluable assistance in both cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Kimlani Ford, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.