16 Years for Trenton Carjacking Kingpin Joshua M. Perez

A 25-year-old Trenton man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in a string of violent carjackings, armed robberies, and firearms offenses, leaving a trail of terrorized victims in his wake.

Joshua M. Perez, 25, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including two counts of carjacking, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

The brazen crimes took place in October and December 2020, with Perez and his unidentified co-conspirators targeting unsuspecting victims in Trenton. The perpetrators would often use handguns to rob the victims of their money, cell phones, and vehicles, leaving some victims bloodied and traumatized.

One particularly egregious incident occurred on December 5, 2020, when Perez and his co-conspirator carjacked a victim who was sitting in his parked car. The pair then used the victim’s car to commit an armed robbery at a nearby gas station, pistol-whipping two victims and emptying the cash register at gunpoint.

The investigation into Perez’s crimes was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Trenton Police Department. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger praised the work of the special agents and task force officers who brought Perez to justice.

In addition to the 16-year prison sentence, Judge Georgette Castner also ordered Perez to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to the victims of his crimes. The sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Ashley Super Pitts represented the government in the case, which was investigated by the ATF’s Newark Field Division and the Trenton Police Department.