Five Philadelphia men were convicted on Mar. 19 of conspiring to commit at least 29 armed carjackings, including the murder of a carjacking victim and the murder of a potential witness, according to United States Attorney David Metcalf. The convictions followed a trial in which the defendants were found guilty of participating in a violent carjacking ring that operated in and around Philadelphia.
The case is significant due to the scale and violence involved, with dozens of gunpoint carjackings carried out by rotating groups between October 2021 and October 2022. The crimes included multiple shootings, assaults on victims, and efforts to sell stolen vehicles overseas.
Mikal McCracken, also known as “Kal,” was convicted for his role in a fatal carjacking and for participating in the conspiracy to murder a potential witness. He was also found guilty of offenses related to an additional 20 armed attempted or completed carjackings. Amin Muse (“Miyn” or “Miyns”) was convicted on similar charges, including involvement in eight other armed carjackings. Aleem Abdul-Hakim (“Fatleem”) was found guilty for his part in the fatal carjacking and five additional armed incidents. Dean Fosque (“30”) faced convictions for nine armed carjackings involving three shootings, while Kavon Coleman (“Ski”) was convicted for four such incidents.
According to court filings presented at trial, many crimes occurred across Southwest and Northeast Philadelphia as well as nearby suburbs such as Yeadon, Millbourne, Lower Southampton, and King of Prussia. The group often used firearms during their crimes and sometimes stole personal identification materials from victims to commit fraud.
“These defendants ran one of the most extensive and terrible carjacking rings in American history that terrorized and, in some cases killed, its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “When viewed by the sheer scale and volume of violent robberies, this prosecution represents perhaps the most successful carjacking prosecution in the history of the Department of Justice.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia said: “These convictions should send a clear message: those who commit brazen, violent crimes targeting our community will be identified, pursued, and held accountable.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said: “These individuals didn’t just steal cars — they terrorized neighborhoods, took innocent lives, and attempted to silence witnesses to cover their crimes.”
Eric DeGree from ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division added: “Through the teamwork... we have brought these dangerous criminals to justice.”
The defendants are scheduled for sentencing at a later date where they face maximum possible terms of life imprisonment.
