Two Men Charged With Armed Carjacking And Possession Of A Machinegun

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrests of JOSE RIVERA and JOMAR CRESPO for the armed carjacking of the personal vehicle used by a Sergeant for the NYPD.  During the incident, both RIVERA and CRESPO brandished firearms, including a .40-caliber Glock with a “switch” that converts the semiautomatic pistol into an automatically firing machinegun and a 9-millimeter Glock with an extended magazine.  The defendants were arrested on June 15, 2024, in Manhattan and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, armed with a machinegun and semi-automatic handgun, both with extended magazines, the defendants committed a brazen and terrifying act of violence against a member of law enforcement when they stole his car at gunpoint.  Whether cop or civilian, anyone victimized by this sort of crime can count on my Office to seek swift justice.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: “Carjacking is an extreme act of violence that terrorizes communities and senselessly puts innocent lives in danger.  I thank the men and women of the ATF/NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force, the NYPD, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NY for bringing these individuals swiftly to justice.  We will expend all necessary resources to ensure that offenders like these defendants are quickly brought to justice and punished to the maximum extent of the law.  ATF will continue to work diligently with our local, state, and federal partners to keep our streets safe.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The NYPD’s swift apprehension of the men who allegedly committed this brazen armed carjacking should serve as a warning to others that criminal acts in New York City will never be tolerated.  I thank the prosecutors in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District for their steadfast partnership and for demonstrating that egregious affronts to public safety will always face the strictest of consequences.”  

According to the allegations in the Complaint and statements made in public court proceedings:1

On the evening of June 14, 2024, in Harlem, JOSE RIVERA and JOMAR CRESPO committed a gunpoint carjacking during which they stole the personal vehicle (the “Car”) of an NYPD Sergeant (the “Victim”).  Specifically, RIVERA and CRESPO approached the Victim’s Car from behind, one on the driver’s side and the other on the passenger’s side.  Both RIVERA and CRESPO wore black clothing and facemasks, and both brandished handguns at the Victim.  After ordering the Victim to turn over his keys, RIVERA and CRESPO drove off in the Car, traveling to the vicinity of West 138th Street and Broadway, where RIVERA and CRESPO were captured on various surveillance cameras, as seen below:

NYPD officers apprehended RIVERA and CRESPO after a foot chase, during which they discarded two firearms (“Firearm-1” and “Firearm-2,” respectively).  Firearm-1 was determined to be a loaded Glock 27 .40-caliber pistol equipped with what appears to be a Glock automatic switch device (the “Glock Switch”), which, if operable, would cause Firearm-1 to automatically shoot more than one shot by a single function of trigger.  Firearm-2 was determined to be a loaded Glock 17 9-millimeter pistol with an extended magazine that could hold up to approximately 30 rounds of ammunition.  Both Firearm-1 and Firearm-2 had flashlights mounted beneath their barrels.  Photographs of Firearm-1 and Firearm-2 appear below:            

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JOSE RIVERA, 20, and JOMAR CRESPO, 21, both of Waterbury, Connecticut, are charged with carjacking, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison; using and carrying firearms, including a machinegun, during and in relation to the carjacking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life in prison; and possessing a machinegun, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the ATF, the NYPD, and NYPD Task Force Officers from the Special Investigations Division assigned to the Southern District of New York.   

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello and Marguerite B. Colson are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.