Men Carjacked Victim In Newark Restaurant Parking Lot: Feds

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two Essex County men have been accused of carjacking a victim as he waited for his food order in a restaurant parking lot in Newark, authorities recently announced.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Arraqeeb Williamscook, 23, of East Orange, and Washir Singletary, 30, of Newark, were charged with carjacking and conspiracy to commit carjacking. Singletary was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The specific location and restaurant was not named in the criminal complaint.

Prosecutors released the following allegations about the carjacking:

“On Dec. 9, 2023, the victim was waiting for his pick-up order at a restaurant in Newark. The victim was pumping air into the front passenger side tire while waiting for his food order when Williamscook and Singletary pulled into the parking lot in a Lexus that had been stolen out of Wall Township. Williamscook got out of the Lexus and entered the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. When the victim approached Williamscook, [he] brandished what appeared to be a firearm.”

Here's what happened next, prosecutors said:

“As the victim ran into the restaurant to call for help, Singletary got out of the Lexus and changed places with Williamscook in the victim’s vehicle. Singletary drove away in the victim’s vehicle. Williamscook was apprehended in the restaurant parking lot attempting to flee in the stolen Lexus. Shortly after, Singletary returned to the restaurant parking lot with an unidentified conspirator in the victim’s car to retrieve the stolen Lexus. The unidentified conspirator drove away in the victim’s car and Singletary drove away in the stolen Lexus. Singletary was later apprehended after abandoning the stolen Lexus. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a Ruger/Strum revolver.”

Prosecutors said the count of conspiracy to commit carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors credited the Newark Police Department with aiding the FBI’s investigation into the incident.

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