On January 21, 2026, Donte Patterson, 33, was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for his involvement in two armed carjackings and an armed robbery that occurred in Chicago and Milwaukee. The sentencing was announced by Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Court records indicate that Patterson carried out an armed carjacking in Chicago on August 20, 2025. The following day, he traveled to Milwaukee where he committed a second armed carjacking and then an armed robbery in West Milwaukee. In each incident, Patterson brandished a firearm.
During the sentencing hearing, Chief District Judge Pamela Pepper addressed the gravity of the crimes and their impact on victims. Judge Pepper stated that Patterson’s actions caused “psychological torture” to those affected and emphasized the need to protect the public.
U.S. Attorney Schimel commented on the case: “Donte Patterson is an extremely dangerous offender who has spent nearly all of his adult life in prison and committed this violent crime spree only 6 months after release from his prior prison sentence. There is clearly only one way for society to be safe from Patterson: lock him up. Thanks to the hard work of the law enforcement and prosecution team, our communities will get a much-needed break from his violent behavior.”
FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr also addressed the outcome: "One of the FBI’s top priorities is crushing violent crime. The significant sentence for Donte Patterson reflects the seriousness of his criminal offenses and his status as a repeat offender. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify criminals who prey upon our communities and bring them to justice."
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force, which included members from the Milwaukee Police Department, West Milwaukee Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart prosecuted the case.
