A Milwaukee man, James Poole, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in a series of armed carjackings in January 2024. According to court records, Poole, aged 19, was involved in two carjackings on January 29 and 30 of that year, during both of which he brandished a firearm.
The first incident took place around 7:45 pm on the 2400 block of N. Farwell Avenue, with the second occurring the following day at approximately 5:00 pm in a parking lot near 2nd Street and Plankinton Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. After the second carjacking, Poole led police on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 90 mph and ultimately crashing the stolen vehicle into a tree. This resulted in life-threatening injuries to the passengers.
Following his prison term, Poole will be subject to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution.
Jabari Griffin, Poole's co-defendant, received a sentence on February 27, 2025, for aiding in the January 30 carjacking. Griffin, aged 21, was sentenced to six years in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling stated, “Individuals who engage in violent crimes – like these armed carjackings – not only endanger the lives and well-being of their victims but also can shatter the confidence of all residents that our cities are safe places in which to live and work.” He emphasized the commitment of his office to collaborate with law enforcement partners to hold these individuals accountable.
FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge, Michael Hensle, remarked on the severity of the crimes, stating, “Armed carjackings and the dangerous actions of those who committed the offenses in this case endangered the public and impacted the victims of this crime. This sentencing reflects the severity of the crimes committed by James Poole.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman highlighted the impact of these acts on the community and praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, saying, “The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in holding violent individuals accountable for their actions. Armed carjackings are violent acts that cause great harm to our community.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the Milwaukee Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Michael C. Schindhelm.
