Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 24, 2023, Jerome O. Smith (27) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison related to a carjacking that took place in Milwaukee in May 2022.
According to court records, on May 8, 2022, Smith lured his victim to an apartment building in Milwaukee. When the victim arrived, Smith held a gun to his head and stole his jewelry, wallet, watch, and car keys. Smith then fled in the victim’s car. After being charged in federal court, Smith entered guilty pleas to one count of carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
At sentencing, United States District Court Brett H. Ludwig noted that Smith’s crime was among the most serious crimes prosecuted in federal court. Judge Ludwig discussed the violent nature of the crime and the trauma it caused the victim; he concluded that the crime warranted a significant period of incarceration.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Benjamin P. Taibleson.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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It looks like the max sentence Judge Ludwig could impose was 15 years. He must have been in a good mood that day. He is a smart guy. I would have given this guy the whole 15 or whatever was allowed. This conduct warrants a severe penalty.