Lee Caraballo, Carjacking, New Jersey 2012

A carjacking suspect in New Jersey has been convicted after his victim used the 'find my iPhone' feature on the stolen phone to locate him.

Lee Caraballo, 28, of Newark, was found guilty of theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The crime occurred on November 30, 2012, when Caraballo carjacked a Rutgers law student at gunpoint in the student's home driveway. He stole the victim's wallet and cell phone before fleeing in the victim's Toyota Corolla.

A Roselle Park police officer pulled over Caraballo later that day in a routine traffic stop, where he was driving his own car. The officer found the victim's cell phone and car keys as well as various items of clothing the victim later identified.

While Caraballo was in police custody, the carjacking victim located his phone remotely and called the police station. He later identified the defendant.

The carjacking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison, while the firearms charge carries a minimum consecutive term of seven years in prison and a maximum consecutive term of life in prison. Both charges also carry a maximum $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is currently scheduled for February 23, 2015.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/carjacker-identified-through-stolen-iphone-convicted-trial