Franklin Jay Smith, Armed Carjacking, Maryland 2021

Two Baltimore Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Carjackings

In a shocking display of brazen crime, two Baltimore men, Franklin Jay Smith, age 34, and Davon Tramont Dorsey, age 30, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in three armed carjackings that took place in May and August 2021.

According to court documents, between May and August 2021, the conspirators planned and organized the kidnapping of three victims, J.H. and two employees of check cashing businesses, victims A.T. and A.K. The conspirators carjacked and abducted the victims and used force and threats of force to steal cash.

Franklin Jay Smith, a resident of Catonsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison, with 48 months for carjacking and 60 months consecutive for use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. He was also sentenced to 4 years of supervised release.

Davon Tramont Dorsey, a resident of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.

The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, in conjunction with the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, Harford County Sheriff's Office, and the Harford County State's Attorney's Office.

The case against Smith and Dorsey was part of a larger investigation into a conspiracy involving multiple individuals who used police-style vests, badges, and a law enforcement-type light bar to stop the victims and/or their vehicles, and brandished firearms and a blow torch during the kidnappings.

The three incidents occurred on May 5, 2021, May 15, 2021, and August 2, 2021.

Smith admitted that he participated in the two incidents in May, while Dorsey admitted that he participated in the May 15, 2021, incident and the August 2, 2021, incident.

One of the most egregious incidents occurred on May 5, 2021, when Smith and two other conspirators followed victim A.T. from the check cashing business where she worked, driving a Ford Fusion supplied by Smith. They set up a detour along the route to cause A.T. to turn down a side street where they posed as police and used a law enforcement-type light bar to pull over A.T.'s vehicle.

Smith and the other conspirators brandished firearms to remove A.T. from her vehicle, handcuffed her, placed her into the rear of one of their vehicles, blindfolded her, and stole her vehicle.

While driving with victim A.T., the conspirators burned victim A.T. with the blow torch in an attempt to get information from A.T. in order to access the check cashing business where she worked, with the intent to remove all the cash from the business.

Smith and the other conspirators later placed A.T. back in the rear of her vehicle, still bound, covered the vehicle with a tarp, and left A.T. to make her way out and call for help.

Dorsey and the other conspirators also kidnapped and robbed J.H. on May 15, 2021, while driving a Ford Fusion with police-style lights. They told J.H. that he had an outstanding warrant and put him in handcuffs, duct tape over his eyes and mouth, bound his feet, and put him in the back of their vehicle.

The conspirators demanded $10,000 from J.H. and told him that they knew where he lived and that they would kill his parents if he did not cooperate.

The sentences handed down by Judge Hurson bring an end to a shocking and disturbing saga of violence and intimidation.

Defendant:

Franklin Jay Smith

Criminal Charges:

Carjacking and Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Crime of Violence

City and State:

Baltimore, Maryland

Exact Date:

May 5, 2021, May 15, 2021, and August 2, 2021

Sentence or Outcome:

Franklin Jay Smith: 9 years in federal prison, with 48 months for carjacking and 60 months consecutive for use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, and 4 years of supervised release

Davon Tramont Dorsey: 15 years in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release

Dollar Amounts:

$10,000

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/two-baltimore-men-sentenced-9-years-and-15-years-respectively-federal-prison-relating