Donteze Congress, Armed Carjacking, Ohio 2022

CLEVELAND – A brazen armed carjacking spree that left victims shaken and terrorized has finally come to an end. Three Northeast Ohio men have pleaded guilty to three separate armed carjacking incidents that occurred in a single day on August 9, 2022.

The defendants, Donteze Congress, 18, of Maple Heights, Ohio, Thomas J.D. Williams, 18, of Maple Heights, Ohio, and Kenneth Franklin, 19, of Akron, Ohio, used firearms and threats of violence to steal a vehicle on three separate occasions. According to court documents, the defendants intentionally crashed their vehicle into the rear of a victim vehicle to cause a minor traffic incident in two of the armed carjacking incidents.

In the third incident, the defendants followed the victim’s vehicle to a shopping center parking lot. As the victim exited their vehicle, they were confronted by one or two of the defendants brandishing firearms, threatening violence, and demanding the keys to the vehicle.

During each incident, the defendants stole the vehicle and fled the scene. Later that day, officers with the Solon Police Department, along with assistance from other jurisdictions, located Williams driving in one of the stolen vehicles. Williams was later arrested and found to be in possession of a victim credit card and a loaded pistol.

Congress pleaded guilty to three counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Williams pleaded guilty to three counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Franklin pleaded guilty to three counts of carjacking and two counts of aiding and abetting possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI, Solon Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Streetsboro Police Department, and the Garfield Heights Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly and Christopher J. Joyce. Defendant Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2023. Defendant Congress is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2023. Defendant Franklin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023.

As the community breathes a sigh of relief, the victims of these brazen armed carjackings are left to pick up the pieces and heal from the trauma inflicted upon them. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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