Arraqeeb Williamscook, Carjacking, New Jersey 2024

Newark, NJ, residents are on high alert after two men were charged with carjacking a vehicle in the city. Arraqeeb Williamscook, 23, of East Orange, and Washir Singletary, 30, of Newark, are accused of stealing a car from a victim who was waiting for his pick-up order at a restaurant in Newark on December 9, 2023.

According to court documents, Williamscook and Singletary pulled into the parking lot in a stolen Lexus and Williamscook got out of the vehicle and entered the driver’s side of the victim’s car. When the victim approached Williamscook, he brandished what appeared to be a firearm and Singletary drove away in the victim’s vehicle.

Williamscook was apprehended in the restaurant parking lot, attempting to flee in the stolen Lexus. Shortly after, Singletary returned to the parking lot with an unidentified conspirator in the victim’s car to retrieve the stolen Lexus. The unidentified conspirator drove away in the victim’s car, and Singletary drove away in the stolen Lexus. Singletary was later apprehended after abandoning the stolen Lexus and was found in possession of a Ruger/Strum revolver.

The charges against Williamscook and Singletary include one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, one count of carjacking, and Singletary faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit carjacking is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Singletary’s charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon also carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ingrid Eicher of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and Williamscook and Singletary are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and members of the Newark City Police Department.