Related Federal Cases
- Memphis Carjacker Gets 20 Years · Tennessee
- Davis Gets 6 Years for Targeting Drug Dealers · West Virginia
- Nashville’s Charlotte McEwen, 50, Pleads Guilty to $466K Wire Fraud · Tennessee
- Meth Kingpin Davis Gets 23 Years · Georgia
- Steven Dale Audette Gets 20 Years for $3.5M Mafia Scam · Alabama
Nashville Carjacker Kumssa Gets 21+ Years
NASHVILLE, TN – Estifanos Kumssa, 26, of Nashville, is facing over two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 260 months in federal prison for a pair of brazen carjackings committed while he was already out on bond for a separate violent crime. The sentence, handed down earlier this week, underscores a growing frustration with repeat offenders and a commitment from federal authorities to aggressively prosecute those who prey on the community.
According to court documents, Kumssa first targeted an Uber driver on May 30, 2019, in Antioch, Tennessee. While the driver was taking a smoke break, Kumssa and an accomplice stormed his vehicle, Kumssa brandishing a pink and black handgun. Demanding money, Kumssa ultimately shoved the weapon through the cracked window, stole the driver’s wallet, and forced him out of the car before speeding away. Surveillance footage and the victim’s testimony positively identified Kumssa, including a distinctive sweatshirt he wore during the crime.
Less than six hours later, Kumssa struck again, this time victimizing two people at 2510 Murfreesboro Pike. Approaching a vehicle where Victim B was cleaning a business and Victim C was waiting inside, Kumssa brandished a pistol and demanded the keys, ordering Victim C to exit. A quick response from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) led to a pursuit after a “be-on-the-lookout” (BOLO) alert was issued. Kumssa ultimately crashed the stolen vehicle and fled on foot, discarding the pink and black firearm along his escape route before being apprehended.
“This defendant was already released on bond in state court for a violent crime when he committed more violence, so it was critically important for us to step up to protect our community,” stated Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This conviction and the serious sentence he received should illustrate our commitment to prosecuting violent offenders to the fullest extent and holding them accountable so they can’t victimize anyone else in our community.” The prosecution highlighted Kumssa’s prior criminal history, which included two counts of auto burglary from September 2017 and a previous carjacking conviction in January 2018.
Federal authorities and local law enforcement are emphasizing the collaborative effort that brought Kumssa to justice. “The FBI works closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to make sure those bringing violence to our streets are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake added, “Criminal defendants on pre-trial release who continue to victimize our community must be held accountable. Our police department and the United States Attorney’s Office are watching closely for those situations.”
Kumssa was convicted by a jury on two counts of carjacking and two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The 260-month sentence sends a clear message: those who repeatedly engage in violent crime, especially while awaiting trial for other offenses, will face severe consequences in the Middle District of Tennessee.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
