Cleveland gang members Kenneth Jackson, Jr. and Antowine Palmer have been sentenced to prison for their roles in carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood.
According to reports, Jackson, 20, brandished a firearm in two separate carjacking incidents, while Palmer, 24, used a firearm in one of the attacks. The incidents occurred in July 2015.
Jackson was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison by U.S. Chief Judge Patricia A. Gaughan, while Palmer received a sentence of more than 14 years in prison. However, Palmer’s sentence will be served after he completes a seven-year prison sentence in state court for felonious assault.
Palmer still has a murder trial pending in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Tervon’tae Taylor, D’wan Dillard, Jr., and Calvin Rembert, all members of the Heartless Felons street gang, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in carjackings in and around Tremont in the summer of 2015.
The evidence presented in the trial showed that Jackson and Palmer planned to carry out a drive-by shooting against a rival gang, but first needed a vehicle to remain unrecognizable. They held a gun to a man’s head, pistol-whipped him, and stole his vehicle, wallet, and cellular phone. The defendants used the victim’s credit cards to make purchases at a Walmart.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the sentences, saying they send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated. The Violent Crime Task Force and local partners are committed to aggressively investigating predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against citizens.
The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep neighborhoods safe for all who live, work, and play in the city.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton.
Defendant: Kenneth Jackson, Jr.
Criminal Charges: Armed Carjacking
City and State: Cleveland, Ohio
Date: July 25, 2015
Sentence: More than 64 years in prison
Defendant: Antowine Palmer
Criminal Charges: Armed Carjacking
City and State: Cleveland, Ohio
Date: July 25, 2015
Sentence: More than 14 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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