DETROIT, MI – A botched carjacking led to a brutal kidnapping and a six-person federal indictment, authorities announced Thursday. The group allegedly targeted a man they wrongly believed was involved in a vehicle theft, subjecting him to a violent beating in a desperate attempt to extract information. The case highlights the escalating cycle of street justice and the dangers of vigilante actions, according to U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
The indictment, unsealed today, names Cortez Blake, 21, Detroit, MI; Karamoh Turner, 21, Detroit, MI; Semaj Ayers, 20, Detroit, MI; Maijah Greene, 22, Detroit, MI; Shatonnia Kimbrough, 19, Detroit, MI; and Armond Williams, 20, Detroit, MI. All six are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, stemming from events that unfolded between November 14 and 15, 2021. Remarkably, Cortez Blake, the alleged victim of the original carjacking, is also accused of participating in the kidnapping plot.
According to federal prosecutors, the group joined forces with other unnamed individuals to abduct and assault the victim, believing he possessed information about the carjacking. The indictment details a coordinated effort to inflict harm and extract answers, demonstrating a chilling disregard for the law and the victim’s well-being. Four of the defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court today, facing potentially life-altering consequences.
“The coordinated effort to victimize and seek retaliation in this case is stunning,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “This is a clear example of what we see too often: violence causing more violence, and it has to stop. Today’s arrests should send a clear message to those thinking about carrying out street justice – it will not be tolerated.” The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), underscores the agency’s commitment to dismantling violent criminal groups.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Paul Vanderplow vowed continued pressure on such groups. “Criminal groups who violently terrorize our communities will be aggressively pursued, and eradicated from our communities,” he said. If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. The case is a key component of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community partnerships.
The investigation involved a multi-agency task force, including the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Labor, the United States Marshals Service, the Detroit Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Michigan Department of Corrections. Prosecutors emphasized that an indictment is not proof of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the charges serve as a stark warning: Detroit’s streets will not be a playground for vigilante justice.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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