Andre Whitfield, Carjacking, Missouri 2020

A brazen crime spree that terrorized two women in the St. Louis area has come to an end with the guilty plea of Andre Whitfield, a 32-year-old man who admitted to stealing two cars at gunpoint in separate incidents.

The first incident occurred on April 21, 2020, when Whitfield, who was on supervised release from a 2011 gun case, stole a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix from a woman who had given him a ride. He brandished a firearm during the carjacking, which is a serious felony offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Just weeks later, on May 13, 2020, Whitfield struck again, stealing a 2010 Toyota Corolla from a woman in her 70s. The car was later spotted by police, who initiated a high-speed chase that ended with Whitfield crashing the vehicle. Inside the car, police found an AR-15 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol, both of which Whitfield used to commit the crimes.

Whitfield’s guilty plea to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence has put him on track to serve at least 14 years in prison. Each gun charge carries a mandatory seven-year sentence that will run consecutively to his other crimes.

At the time of the carjackings, Whitfield was on supervised release from a 2011 gun case, which suggests that he had a history of violent behavior that was not adequately addressed by the justice system. The fact that he was able to commit two more carjackings in the span of just a few weeks is a disturbing indication of the need for more effective crime prevention strategies.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the Hillsdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.

Whitfield’s sentencing is scheduled for October 7, where he will likely face the consequences of his actions. In the meantime, the community can take heart in knowing that the perpetrator of these heinous crimes is being held accountable for his actions.

St. Louis, Missouri, April 21 and May 13, 2020 – Andre Whitfield, a 32-year-old man from St. Louis, has pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm. He faces at least 14 years in prison, with each gun charge carrying a mandatory seven-year sentence that will run consecutively to his other crimes. Whitfield was on supervised release from a 2011 gun case at the time of the carjackings.

The case highlights the need for more effective crime prevention strategies, particularly in communities that are plagued by violent crime. It also underscores the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, and ensuring that they serve the full extent of their sentences.

The investigation into the carjackings was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the Hillsdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.

Defendant: Andre Whitfield, a 32-year-old man from St. Louis, Missouri.

Criminal charges: Two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

City and state: St. Louis, Missouri.

Exact date: April 21 and May 13, 2020.

Sentence: At least 14 years in prison, with each gun charge carrying a mandatory seven-year sentence that will run consecutively to his other crimes.

Dollar amounts: $700 was in the purse of the woman whose Toyota Corolla was stolen.

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