St. Louis continues to grapple with a surge in violent crime, and two individuals are now facing federal charges for their alleged role in a pair of carjackings last May. Jermaine Smith, 48, of St. Louis, and Bianka North, 27, of Illinois, were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday, accused of preying on victims and brandishing firearms to steal their vehicles.
The first incident occurred on May 14, 2022, in North Riverfront Park. According to a criminal complaint, Smith and North allegedly feigned car trouble to lure a victim out of their 2006 Pontiac G6. Once the victim was close enough, North allegedly brandished a firearm and stole the vehicle. It’s a tactic as cold as the Missouri winter – exploiting trust and then turning to violence.
The next day, just after midnight on May 15, the pair allegedly struck again, this time targeting a 2009 Toyota Scion in the 1600 block of South 9th Street. Investigators say the stolen Pontiac G6 was used in this second carjacking. Following the theft, Smith allegedly drove the Scion to his block and attempted to transfer money from the victim’s mobile phone using the Cash App. A pathetic attempt to profit from terror.
Evidence collected by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) appears to tie Smith and North to the crimes. Surveillance footage from an apartment complex allegedly shows individuals matching their descriptions accessing both the Pontiac G6 and the Toyota Scion. The footage, according to the complaint, provides a crucial link in the investigation.
Both Smith and North are each facing two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each carjacking charge. The firearm charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. That’s a minimum of 14 years behind bars for a pair of calculated robberies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case. It’s important to remember that these are merely accusations at this stage, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far paints a grim picture of brazen violence on the streets of St. Louis, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is determined to bring these individuals to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Tremaine Cordell Smith, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Missouri 2016 · Illinois
- Jordan Daniel Smith, Unlawful Firearm Possession, MO 2023 · Illinois
- East St. Louis Man Gets 71 Months for Gun Crime · Illinois
- East St. Louis Felon Caught with 9 mm Handgun · Illinois
- Jermaine Griffin, Possessing Stolen Gun, Mississippi 2017 · Illinois
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