Rakeem McNair, 21, Admits to Carjacking Uber Driver in Newark

Newark, N.J. – In a heinous display of violence, Rakeem McNair, 21, of Roselle, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the carjacking. The crime occurred on August 13, 2019, in Newark.

McNair, along with accomplice Raquin Tanner, 25, of Newark, brutally attacked an unsuspecting Uber driver. The victim was sitting in her car on Summer Avenue when three males approached her vehicle. Tanner signaled the other two males to begin the carjacking, and one of them pointed a firearm through the driver’s side window.

After a struggle, McNair and his accomplice threw the victim violently to the ground and drove away with the vehicle. McNair admitted to aiding his conspirator in dragging the victim from the car. The carjacking count carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison, while the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence count is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

McNair entered his guilty plea on July 27, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo. Meanwhile, his accomplice, Raquin Tanner, had already pleaded guilty on March 10, 2021, to one count of aiding and abetting the carjacking. Both defendants remain in detention.

The investigation leading to the guilty pleas was a collaborative effort between the Newark Police Department, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the FBI. The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Robert Frazer of the Organized Crime/Gang Unit in Newark.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Uber drivers and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their violent crimes. As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that the actions of McNair and his accomplice have severe consequences, both for the victim and for the community at large.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig credited the investigative agencies for their tireless efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

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