Cleveland Man Faces Carjacking, Firearms Charges

A grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Rayvon McGhee, age 19, of Cleveland, with carjacking and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that on or about October 18, 2012, McGhee knowingly carried a firearm with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm to take a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation. The charge stems from an armed carjacking that occurred in the Cleveland area.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The indictment results from an investigation conducted by the Cleveland Cuyahoga Violent Crimes Task Force, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cleveland Cuyahoga Violent Crimes Task Force targets violent crime through a partnership of the United States Attorney’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Police Department, Adult Parole Authority, and other state and local agencies.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty’s Office will assist in the prosecution of this case in the United States District Court.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Mussman.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.