Violent Carjacking Gets Atlanta Man 25 Years

ATLANTA, GA — A six-time convicted felon who shot his carjacking victim in Atlanta will spend the next 25 years of his life in federal prison, prosecutors announced Monday.

Jeff North, 54, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. He was convicted by a jury in December on charges he carjacked a van, shot its owner and, as a convicted felon, illegally owned a handgun. He also was ordered to pay more than $36,000 in restitution and spend three years of supervised release if he ever gets out of prison.

On March 23, 2015, an Atlanta Police officer was on routine patrol when a man whose shirt was soaked in blood flagged him down. He told the officer someone had just shot him and stolen his van, then pointed to the van as it was being driven away.

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The officer stopped the van and arrested North. Inside, he found a revolver, as well as the victim's wallet and identification. At the time of the carjacking, North was a six-time convicted felon, with previous convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

"North callously shot the carjacking victim at close range when he refused to surrender his vehicle," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "As a felon, with several prior convictions for violent crimes and drug offenses, North shows no regard for the rule of law, and contempt for law abiding citizens. This sentence will remove him from our streets and put him in federal prison where he will serve a lengthy sentence."

The case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atlanta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka prosecuted the case.

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