Noah Johnson, Carjacking and Murder Convictions, Philadelphia PA, 2023

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PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia carjacking crew is facing life sentences after a federal jury convicted five men today in connection with a relentless string of armed robberies that escalated to murder. The group, operating in and around the city, didn’t just steal cars – they terrorized victims and silenced anyone who might talk.

The five – Mikal McCracken (24, aka “Kal”), Amin Muse (24, aka “Miyn” and “Miyns”), Aleem Abdul-Hakim (23, aka “Fatleem”), Dean Fosque (28, aka “30”), and Kavon Coleman (23, aka “Ski”) – were busted after a sprawling federal investigation. The superseding indictment handed down in July 2024 laid out a pattern of brazen carjackings and a cold-blooded willingness to eliminate threats.

The most shocking element of the case: the February 2022 carjacking and murder of a former Marine. McCracken, Muse, and Abdul-Hakim were all convicted in connection with his death. But the violence didn’t stop there. McCracken and Muse were also found guilty of conspiring to murder a potential witness, attempting to bury the investigation before it could gain traction.

The jury found McCracken tied to a staggering 20 additional armed carjackings, five of which involved gunfire. One victim was targeted twice, carjacked and shot on separate occasions a month apart. Muse faced convictions related to eight other carjackings, including one where shots were fired. Fosque was connected to nine carjackings, three with confirmed shootings, and one victim was hit. Abdul-Hakim was linked to five carjackings. Coleman was connected to four.

Prosecutors say the stolen vehicles were funneled to buyers who shipped them overseas, likely to Africa, for resale. Sentencing is pending, but with the charges carrying potential life sentences, these men are likely looking at a very long stretch behind bars. This wasn’t about stealing cars; it was a calculated operation fueled by violence and a blatant disregard for human life.

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