Lexington, KY — Jody Shipman, 29, is headed to federal prison for 165 months after pleading guilty to two violent carjackings that terrorized women in the city just weeks apart in early 2019. Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves handed down the sentence Thursday, underscoring the brutality behind the crimes and the federal crackdown on armed street violence.
The first attack came in January 2019, when Shipman confronted a woman at her apartment complex, demanding her car keys, phone, and wallet. He threatened her with physical force, then fled in her vehicle. Investigators confirmed he later used her stolen ATM card at a gas station, draining funds while the victim remained in shock.
Just weeks later, in February 2019, Shipman struck again—this time at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. He approached a second woman, forced her into her own car at gunpoint, and drove her to an ATM where he ordered her to withdraw cash from her account. The incident, captured on surveillance, showed the victim trembling as Shipman kept close control, treating her like collateral in a cold, calculated robbery.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Shipman must serve at least 85 percent of his 13-year-and-9-month sentence before release. Upon completion of his prison term, he will face three years of supervised release under the watch of the U.S. Probation Office—a measure aimed at curtailing any return to violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Lexington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), highlighting the joint task force efforts under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian—federal initiatives designed to dismantle cycles of gun-fueled violence and boost prosecution of repeat offenders. U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow, and Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers jointly confirmed the sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker prosecuted the case, where Shipman’s guilty plea spared victims from reliving trauma in trial. The Department of Justice continues to prioritize PSN and Project Guardian as core strategies in reducing violent crime, particularly where firearms and personal violence intersect. Shipman’s sentence sends a clear message: violent predation on public streets won’t be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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