Zachary Pegg, Armed Carjacking, Florida 2022

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Armed Carjacker Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison

Fort Myers, FL – In a stunning display of justice, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Zachary Pegg (28, North Fort Myers) to 12 years and 3 months in federal prison for his role in an armed carjacking that shook the community in late 2022.

The brazen crime took place on December 30, 2022, in a condominium complex parking garage on First Street in Fort Myers. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the terrifying encounter with a masked assailant who pointed a firearm at him and demanded his keys, cellphone, and wallet.

‘I was just getting out of my car when the assailant appeared out of nowhere, wearing a mask and brandishing a gun,’ the victim recounted. ‘I was frozen in fear, but I didn’t want to risk my life, so I handed over my belongings and let him take my car.’

The stolen vehicle was tracked by law enforcement officers from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit to a residence in North Fort Myers, where Pegg was apprehended after a short foot pursuit with the assistance of a police canine.

Pegg, identified as the masked assailant, was arrested and charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He pleaded guilty on March 27, 2024, and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years and 3 months in federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country. The program brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to foster trust and legitimacy, support prevention efforts, and set strategic enforcement priorities.

The investigation was conducted by the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

The community can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that justice has been served, and Pegg will no longer pose a threat to innocent lives. As one community leader noted, ‘This sentence sends a strong message that armed carjacking will not be tolerated in our community.’