NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — In just one day – Saturday, Jan. 15 – four New Orleans men allegedly committed eight carjackings across the city, “terrorizing” their victims.
That’s according to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, who announced grand jury indictments against the four suspects at a news conference Wednesday (Jan. 26) in the St. Roch neighborhood, near where one of the crimes occurred.
Ivory Grant, Camron Bryant, Keyhaid McGee and Larry Winbush are each charged with 11 counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery – one count for each of the victims in the eight carjacked vehicles.
Williams said the charges reflect the fact that an armed robbery conviction carries a stiffer sentence than a carjacking conviction, and the suspects could face between 15 and 99 years in prison.
Besides St. Roch, Williams said the crimes occurred in Gentilly, New Orleans East, and Uptown New Orleans. And although Williams has had several recent public disputes with NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, Williams praised the police officers in those neighborhoods who worked to “secure even greater evidence” after arresting the suspects.
Williams also called the grand jury indictments an example of greater cooperation between his office and the NOPD to try to stop suspects who commit crimes routinely.
“We are not wasting our resources going after squirrels and rabbits,” said Williams.
“We are focused on lions and bears, and getting repeat offenders off the streets.”