ST. LOUIS – Two individuals are off the streets and facing serious time after being sentenced for a pair of brazen carjackings that terrorized St. Louis residents in May 2022. Jermanine Smith, 51, of St. Louis, and Bianka North, 29, of Illinois, learned their fate this week, with both facing over a decade in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge John A. Ross handed down a 141-month sentence to Smith on Thursday. North received a slightly longer sentence of 154 months, delivered on June 20. Both pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the carjackings. 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 crime spree began on May 14, 2022, when the duo targeted a woman sitting in her 2006 Pontiac G6 at North Riverfront Park. They rolled up in a Dodge Charger, feigning car trouble. Smith attempted to solicit help with a jump-start, a tactic quickly revealed as a setup. While the victim and her friend exited the vehicle, North brandished a silver handgun, ordering them to back away. North then made off with the G6, Smith following close behind in the Charger.
The following day, May 15, 2022, North, still behind the wheel of the stolen G6, parked near a 2009 Scion xD in the 1600 block of South 9th Street. Just after midnight, North again pulled a gun, demanding the driver of the Scion exit the vehicle. The victim complied, but the situation didn’t end there. North also forced the victim to leave her mobile phone inside the car. The brazenness continued after the carjacking, with someone attempting to use the victim’s Cash App account to transfer $300 to Smith.
Federal investigators quickly connected the dots, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, built a solid case. The investigation revealed a pattern of calculated violence and disregard for the victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski successfully prosecuted the case, securing significant sentences for both defendants.
These sentences send a clear message: armed carjacking won’t be tolerated in St. Louis, or anywhere else under federal jurisdiction. While the victims will undoubtedly carry the scars of this trauma, the lengthy prison terms for Smith and North offer a measure of justice and should deter others from engaging in similar violent crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against violent crime in the region.
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Related Federal Cases
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- St. Louis Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Fatal Carjacking of Friend · Illinois
- Mays Gets 26 Years for St. Louis Carjacking Spree · Illinois
- East St. Louis Man Mez Pleads Guilty in 2015 Kidnap-for-Ransom Plot · Illinois
- St. Louis Carjackers Smith & North Hit With 11+ Year Sentences · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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