Memphis Carjacker Gets 20 Years

Jadakiss Johnson, 23, of Tennessee, faced a federal court in Memphis on Tuesday for his role in an armed carjacking that sent shockwaves through the city. Sentenced to 20 years behind bars, Johnson was found guilty of gunpoint robbery and using a firearm during the heist.

The incident occurred on April 9, 2024, when Johnson and his co-defendant, Tyrone White, targeted a victim’s Toyota Camry. Armed with a gun, they forced the driver to surrender her car in an early morning attack. Following their escape, police pursued Johnson, who abandoned his getaway vehicle after a high-speed chase.

Upon search of the car, authorities uncovered multiple firearms and a machinegun-conversion device. Johnson’s prior violent convictions made him prohibited from owning firearms, which led to his classification as a career offender under federal sentencing guidelines.

In court documents, it was revealed that while in custody, Johnson had been involved in an assault on another inmate. His repeated access to firearms before his arrest for the carjacking also came to light during the trial.

White, who pleaded guilty alongside Johnson, received a sentence of over nine years. The ATF and Memphis Police Department conducted the investigation into the case, with Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Brittenum prosecuting it. This sentencing is part of the Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis, a joint effort involving federal and local law enforcement to tackle violent crime in the area.

As the city grapples with the aftermath of this violent incident, Johnson’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who commit armed robbery and weapon-related crimes.

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