Jeylani Bakari, Carjacking and Brandishing Firearms, New York 2021
Two Kentucky Men Arrested on Carjacking and Brandishing Firearms Charges in Buffalo, NY
In a brazen and dangerous armed encounter, two Kentucky men led Buffalo police on a high-speed chase after allegedly carjacking a vehicle in the city's East Side. Jeylani Bakari, 22, and Aweys Hussein, 20, both of Louisville, KY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with carjacking and brandishing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of June 11, 2021, when two victims were sitting inside a Dodge Charger in the 200 block of Woltz Avenue. Three males approached the vehicle with firearms, with one approaching the passenger side and telling the victim to get out of the vehicle and hand over the keys or face death.
The three males then fled the scene in the Dodge Charger, leading police on a chase for approximately four miles before crashing near the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Niagara Street. Inside the vehicle, officers located the defendants, as well as a male juvenile.
During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered three firearms and ammunition. Defendant Bakari had a backpack containing 17 suspected Xanax bars, 18 bags containing a crystal-like substance, 27 suspected Ecstasy pills, an unknown black substance, eight vaping cartridges, and a bag of suspected marijuana.
The investigation was conducted by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Erie County District Attorney's Office, under the direction of District Attorney John Flynn.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Defendant Jeylani Bakari and Aweys Hussein are currently facing charges of carjacking and brandishing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, with a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison and a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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