Trenton Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Carjacking Spree

TRENTON, N.J. – In a shocking turn of events, Joshua M. Perez, a 25-year-old Trenton man, was sentenced to 192 months in prison for a string of carjackings, armed robberies, and firearms offenses.

Perez, who previously pleaded guilty, was charged with two counts of carjacking, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

According to documents filed in the case, Perez and his unidentified conspirators carjacked two individuals in Trenton on Oct. 10, 2020. As the victims were exiting their car, Perez and his conspirators got out of a white sedan, pointed handguns at the victims, and robbed them of their money, cell phones, and vehicle.

Just one month later, on Dec. 5, 2020, Perez and an unidentified conspirator carjacked another individual in Trenton. Perez and his conspirator ran up to the victim’s window, pointed handguns at the victim, and ordered the victim out of the car. They stole the victim’s money and cell phone and fled the scene in the victim’s car.

About an hour later, Perez and multiple unidentified conspirators used the victim’s carjacked vehicle as the getaway car in the armed robbery of a nearby gas station. Perez and his conspirators arrived at the gas station in the victim’s vehicle. As Perez entered the gas station, one of his conspirators ordered two victims outside the station to the ground at gunpoint and pistol-whipped them. Upon entering the gas station, Perez robbed the attendant at gunpoint, emptying the cash register.

On Dec. 7, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to Perez’s residence to execute a search warrant. During the court-authorized search of Perez’s residence, Perez pointed a firearm at the officers and was placed under arrest.

Judge Georgette Castner sentenced Perez to 192 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release and ordered restitution to the victims of his offense.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, and officers of the Trenton Police Department under Police Director Steve Wilson, with the investigations leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Ashley Super Pitts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger praised the hard work and dedication of the investigative teams, saying, ‘This sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement to keep our communities safe from violent crime.’