Memphis, TN - Cartrail Jacobs, 26, has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 2017, officers responded to a carjacking of a 2015 Black Ford Mustang at 974 N. Parkway. A Memphis woman was driving her Mustang on North Parkway when Jacobs, who was driving a previously carjacked Ford Taurus, intentionally rear-ended her Mustang. When the driver of the Mustang got out to inspect the damage from the wreck, Jacobs approached with a gun and demanded the vehicle. Jacobs drove away in the Mustang and one of the two other occupants of the Taurus drove it away. The victim immediately called police.
Memphis Police Officers responded and observed both the Black Ford Mustang and the Ford Taurus traveling together near the location of the carjacking. When police attempted to pull the vehicles over, a chase ensued involving both the Mustang, the Taurus and multiple Memphis law enforcement units. Jacobs ultimately crashed the Ford Mustang into a wall, ending the pursuit. While taking him into custody, officers discovered a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol in the Ford Mustang. Jacobs admitted to owning the weapon and possessing it during the carjacking. Because of his prior criminal record, Jacobs was sentenced as a career offender.
On September 5, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Jacobs to 300 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our Carjacking Initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution. This 25-year sentence demonstrates our resolve to incapacitate the most violent offenders, uphold the rule of law, deter criminal conduct with a strong message of significant consequences, and make us all safer."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
