Tyshjohn Jones, Jayln Gray Get 22 Years for Memphis Carjackings

MEMPHIS, TN – The grim reaper of Memphis’ streets has delivered a 22-year sentence to Tyshjohn Jones and Jayln Gray for their brazen armed carjackings that terrorized the city. Both men have been sentenced to serve a total of 264 months in federal prison for their roles in multiple carjackings, aiding and abetting, and brandishing firearms during violent crimes.

The victims’ testimonies painted a chilling portrait of Jones and Gray’s audacity. On April 29, 2020, J.W., an innocent victim, described the terrifying encounter with the armed duo as they demanded his wallet and vehicle keys in the driveway of his home on Winway Drive. The suspects fled in his 1999 Ford Explorer after a brief struggle.

Several days later, Jones, Gray, and a juvenile suspect were driving the stolen car when they encountered P.F., a Good Samaritan who stopped to assist with a jump start. What followed was a brutal attack as one of the suspects struck P.F. with a pistol for attempting to stop them, leaving him hospitalized with injuries to his head and ribs.

On May 6, 2020, police officers responding to an unrelated burglary discovered personal property belonging to J.W., including keys to his vehicle. Jones and Gray were present at the scene along with other suspects, and further investigation linked Gray’s fingerprints to the recovered Ford Explorer. Gray confessed to the carjacking of the Cadillac, while Jones admitted to both the Ford and Cadillac.

Jones entered a guilty plea on August 13, 2021, for counts involving the carjackings and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Gray followed suit, pleading guilty to the May 2, 2020, carjacking. On November 29, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman imposed sentences of 168 months for Jones and 96 months for Gray, each to be followed by three years of supervised release.

This case was a collaborative effort between the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crime Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth J. Rogers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted on behalf of the government.