Symair Carson-Williams, also known as "Lil Meer," was convicted for his involvement in a series of armed carjackings in Philadelphia. The 19-year-old was found guilty of conspiracy to commit carjacking, three counts of carjacking, and three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. These incidents occurred in early 2024.
Carson-Williams was indicted for these charges in May last year. Evidence presented at the trial included video surveillance, cell phone data, forensic evidence, items recovered from one of the stolen vehicles, and victim testimonies linking him to the crimes.
The carjacking spree began with the theft of a blue 2019 Honda CR-V from Lansing Street on January 27, 2024. Later that morning, the group used the stolen vehicle to rob a 67-year-old man at gunpoint at a Sunoco gas station on North 5th Street. They forced him to surrender his BMW 328i before fleeing.
Shortly after, another victim was targeted on Shelmire Avenue where his Chevrolet Equinox and personal belongings were stolen at gunpoint. The spree concluded with an attack on a man at a Conoco station on Rising Sun Avenue where his Honda Accord was taken.
Carson-Williams is awaiting sentencing and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 21 years in prison. Acting United States Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer Jr., stated: “Symair Carson-Williams and his co-conspirators thought nothing of terrorizing three innocent victims who’d just been going about their morning.”
Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division added: “Carson-Williams and his criminal associates terrorized innocent Philadelphians with this triple-carjacking spree using a stolen car, threatening their victims’ lives with guns to their heads – this young man now faces a mandatory minimum 21 years in federal prison.”
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through community trust and strategic enforcement priorities. The investigation involved the ATF and Philadelphia Police Department and is prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Branwen McNabb O’Donnell and Brian Doherty.
