U.S. Attorney Damian Williams | U.S. Department of Justice
Edward Y. Kim, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Robert Felix-Aracena was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels. Felix-Aracena's sentence is related to a series of gunpoint carjackings in Manhattan, the Bronx, and other locations during 2020, along with a firearms offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim stated: “Robert Felix-Aracena and his co-defendants engaged in a violent, armed carjacking spree that endangered lives and terrorized victims. Felix-Aracena, like his co-defendants, is now being held accountable for his actions. Today’s sentence is a reminder that this Office will relentlessly investigate and prosecute those who seek to inflict violence on our communities.”
Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), emphasized: “This sentencing for these brazen armed carjackings should serve as a clear warning that such criminal acts will never be tolerated." He praised the collaboration among law enforcement agencies saying they "will dedicate all necessary resources to continue collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure our streets remain safe.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch remarked: “This sentencing marks the final dismantling of an organized criminal network that instilled fear in New York City motorists.” She highlighted the cooperative efforts between NYPD investigators and ATF agents.
The indictment detailed several incidents involving Felix-Aracena between October and November 2020 alongside co-defendants Christian Cruz, Andres Caicedo, and Jose Lavandier—each having received sentences ranging from three to ten years.
On October 22nd in the Bronx, Caicedo participated in an armed robbery where marijuana and cash were stolen from a victim at gunpoint. On November 1st and subsequent days leading up to November 13th across different boroughs including Brooklyn and Manhattan, Felix-Aracena was involved in multiple carjackings using firearms.
Felix-Aracena was sentenced not only to prison but also to three years of supervised release post-incarceration. The Dominican Republic citizen resided in the Bronx at the time of these offenses.
Mr. Kim commended both ATF's Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force (SPARTA) team members along with NYPD officers for their investigative work on this case which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Adam Z Margulies & Jonathan L Bodansky under General Crimes Unit supervision.
