Rochester Carjacker Sentenced to Over 10 Years

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a stunning turn of justice, 21-year-old Jacob R. Loyd has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for his brutal carjacking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Loyd, a resident of Rochester, was handed down the 123-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa after being convicted of the heinous crime. The incident occurred on June 16, 2019, when Loyd and two accomplices targeted a vehicle at 115 Gothic Street in Rochester.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassie Kocher and Matthew McGrath detailed how Loyd threatened a firearm to the head of one victim, forcing him out of the car before striking him. The three then made their getaway in the stolen vehicle, only for it to be recovered later with 15 bags of cocaine and a revolver.

The case was part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime through evidence-based programs and community engagement. Under PSN, law enforcement and stakeholders collaborate to address the most pressing violent crime issues in the community.

Investigations were led by the Rochester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with Interim Chief David M. Smith and Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito overseeing the efforts.

Loyd’s sentence is a stark reminder of the severe consequences for those who commit violent crimes, particularly when firearms are involved.