Timothy Wayne Harris Jr., Carjacking Spree, Beaumont TX, 2012

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 22-year-old gunman has been sent to federal prison for a violent carjacking spree that terrorized the streets of Beaumont in 2012. Timothy Wayne Harris Jr., also known as ‘J,’ was convicted by a jury following a three-day trial and faces up to life imprisonment.

Harris, along with Jerry Lee Edwards, 38, embarked on a crime spree outside the Carl’s Jr. restaurant and Calder Food Mart on April 17-18, 2012. Harris and Edwards were indicted in May 2012 on two counts of carjacking, two counts of brandishing a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking. They have been detained since their arrest on April 24, 2012.

The case was delayed for 17 months due to psychiatric evaluations of Harris, the gunman and leader of the offenses. He was deemed competent to stand trial late last year. The jury today convicted Harris of all charges, while Edwards pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit carjacking, facing up to five years in federal prison.

This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Time Machine Initiative, aimed at reducing gun and gang violence in the Eastern District of Texas. Investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI, the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Cockrell.

Harris faces a sentence of 50 years to life, with sentencing dates yet to be set. Edwards’ sentencing date has not been announced.