Carjacker Sentenced To 21 Years In Prison, Prosecutors Say

EAST NEW YORK, BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn man who went on a clumsily executed carjacking spree was sentenced to 21 years in prison, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Anthony Samuel, 23, managed to steal only one car in three carjacking attempts between Aug. 10 and Aug. 12 in 2014, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said in a statement.

Samuel first tried to hold up a group of five people in a parking lot at 630 Utica Ave. on Aug. 10 around 5:30 a.m., prosecutors said.

But three women fled in their car and, when a man handed over his chain and tried to flee, Samuel shot him in the knee, according to prosecutors.

One hour later, Samuel robbed another man of his car and wallet near the corner of East New York near Thomas S. Boyland Street around 6:50 a.m., said prosecutors.

Samuel’s final crime occurred when he tried to carjack a man pulling out of a parking spot near Paerdegat Ninth Street and Paerdegat Avenue North on Aug. 12 around 6:30 a.m., prosecutors said.

Samuel managed to get his victim’s wallet and keys, but failed to make his getaway in the victim’s car, prosecutors said. Instead, Samuel fired a bullet that missed the victim, jumped out of the car and fled on foot.

The crime was caught on video surveillance and Samuel’s DNA and a shell casing from his 9-mm gun were found in the car he failed to steal, said prosecutors.

Samuel was sentenced to 21 years prison on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to robbery in Brooklyn Supreme Court in April, prosecutors said.

“He is clearly a danger to society,” said Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a statement. “Today’s sentence ensures that he will not be able to terrorize other members of our community for many years.”