Demario Webster, 20, and Ira McGruder, 24, both of Jackson, Mississippi, were sentenced Friday for a violent 2014 carjacking that escalated into a home invasion, robbery, and hostage situation on Hannah Drive in Clinton. The attack unfolded around 8:10 PM on September 30, 2014, moments after the victim pulled into his driveway from work.
Armed and aggressive, Webster and McGruder forced the man at gunpoint from his vehicle, stealing his wristwatch and cash before shoving him inside his own home. Once inside, they tied him up, leveled firearms at his head, and demanded the location of additional cash. The terror didn’t stop there—they ransacked the residence, making off with handguns, a television, jewelry, and the victim’s BMW.
The stolen BMW was recovered just over an hour later near the intersection of TV and Maddox Roads in Jackson, a small clue in a case that would stretch federal and local investigative resources. Evidence tied both men to the scene, including witness statements and forensic links that withstood scrutiny ahead of sentencing in U.S. District Court.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves handed down stiff penalties: 78 months in federal prison for Webster, followed by three years of supervised release. McGruder received 82 months behind bars, plus the same three-year supervision period. Both will face lifelong consequences of a violent felony conviction.
Additionally, the court ordered Webster and McGruder to pay joint restitution of $49,900.00 to the traumatized victim, a sum meant to cover financial losses from the theft of property and emotional damage from the ordeal. No amount can erase the terror of being bound in your own home by armed intruders, but the judgment sends a message.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Patrick Lemon and Criminal Chief Darren J. LaMarca of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Investigation was a joint effort between the Clinton Police Department, Jackson Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation—agencies that refused to let the 2014 crime fade into cold case oblivion.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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