NEWARK, N.J. – A brazen spree of violence ended with a guilty plea today as Deion Nance, 28, of Essex County, admitted to robbing two restaurants and violently carjacking a woman at gunpoint. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the plea, detailing a pattern of calculated aggression that terrorized victims across Atlantic County in late 2020 and early 2021.
Nance pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton on June 27, 2024, to a five-count information. The charges include two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The Hobbs Act charges relate to the robberies, establishing interstate commerce was affected by his actions.
The details are chilling. On December 30, 2020, Nance allegedly used a firearm to steal a 2016 Toyota Corolla. He didn’t just take the car; court documents reveal he held a handgun to the victim’s face and physically forced her out of the vehicle before driving off. The brutality of the carjacking is a stark reminder of the danger faced by everyday citizens. Just days later, on January 4, 2021, Nance turned his attention to local restaurants. At the first, he brandished a loaded firearm, demanding money from an employee, and made off with $176. He then attempted a second robbery at another restaurant, again using a firearm to threaten an employee.
Federal prosecutors are seeking serious time for Nance. The carjacking charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Each Hobbs Act robbery conviction is punishable by up to 20 years behind bars. But the real hammer blows come with the firearms charges. Using a firearm during a crime of violence carries a potential life sentence, and crucially, each firearms offense comes with a mandatory minimum of five years – to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. He also faces a potential fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger praised the collaborative investigation that led to Nance’s conviction. Law enforcement officials from the Newark and Harrison police departments, alongside special agents and task force officers with the FBI Newark Field Division, under the direction of James E. Dennehy, worked diligently to build the case. The successful prosecution sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated, and those who prey on others will be held accountable.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Linares of the Organized Crime and Gangs unit in Newark is handling the prosecution. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2024. Nance now faces the prospect of spending a significant portion of his life behind bars for his callous disregard for the safety and well-being of others. The case highlights the continued need for federal and local law enforcement to work together to combat violent crime in New Jersey.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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