United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nateirah Ortiz, 25, from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The sentence was delivered by United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney and includes five years of supervised release and a $300 special assessment. Ortiz was charged with carjacking, using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Ortiz's indictment occurred in April 2024, and she pleaded guilty in August to the charges stemming from an incident on January 31, 2024. On that day, she carjacked a man in South Philadelphia at gunpoint. The victim reported the carjacking on Washington Avenue where Ortiz demanded his keys while pointing a gun at him before fleeing in his vehicle.

Police were alerted about the stolen vehicle citywide via radio shortly after the incident. Officers later spotted the vehicle on Kensington Avenue but Ortiz evaded them after nearly hitting their patrol car. Eventually, police found the crashed vehicle on Richmond Street and apprehended Ortiz nearby with a loaded handgun recovered close to her location.

“Gunpoint carjackings are terrifying for victims and unsettling for the entire community,” stated U.S. Attorney Romero. She emphasized that such actions will lead to significant prison time as demonstrated by Ortiz’s sentence.

Eric DeGree from ATF Philadelphia highlighted that “Nateirah Ortiz is going back to prison for a senseless and dangerous crime.” He assured continued collaboration with local law enforcement through initiatives like the Carjacking Task Force.

Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel remarked on the power of cooperative law enforcement efforts stating that “violent crime will be met with swift, decisive action.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which focuses on reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The case was investigated by ATF along with the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony J. Carissimi and Robert E. Eckert.