St. Louis Carjackers Smith & North Hit With 11+ Year Sentences

ST. LOUIS – A pair of brazen carjackers are off the streets after receiving hefty federal sentences for terrorizing victims in St. Louis during the spring of 2022. Jermanine Smith, 51, of St. Louis, and Bianka North, 29, of Illinois, were sentenced this week for their roles in two separate armed carjackings that left victims shaken and vehicles stolen.

U.S. District Judge John A. Ross handed down a 141-month (11 years, 9 months) sentence to Smith on Thursday. North received an even longer term – 154 months (12 years, 10 months) – on June 20. Both pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges stemming from the incidents. Smith admitted to one count of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. North pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The first carjacking unfolded on May 14, 2022, at North Riverfront Park. A woman was sitting in her 2006 Pontiac G6 when Smith and North rolled up in a Dodge Charger. They concocted a flimsy ruse, asking the victim and her friend for help jump-starting their vehicle. As the victims exited the G6 to offer assistance, North brandished a silver handgun and demanded they step away. North then made off with the Pontiac, while Smith followed in the Charger.

The duo didn’t stop there. The following day, May 15, 2022, North was behind the wheel of the stolen G6 when they targeted another victim in the 1600 block of South 9th Street. North forcibly removed the driver of a 2009 Scion xD at gunpoint, also demanding the victim leave their mobile phone behind. Adding insult to injury, investigators discovered an attempt to use Cash App on the stolen phone to transfer $300 to Smith shortly after the carjacking. A clear indication of the motive: quick cash and zero regard for the victims.

Federal investigators quickly pieced together the evidence, linking Smith and North to both carjackings. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) collaborated on the investigation, building a solid case that led to the guilty pleas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski skillfully prosecuted the case, securing significant prison time for both defendants.

These sentences should send a clear message to anyone considering similar crimes in St. Louis and beyond: armed carjacking is a serious federal offense with severe consequences. Smith and North will have plenty of time to reflect on their choices behind bars, while the streets of St. Louis are a little safer thanks to the work of law enforcement and the federal justice system.