Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois
Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois
A Chicago man has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking three vehicles at gunpoint and shooting one of the victims. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins on September 4, 2025.
According to prosecutors, Jamari Edwards, 23, committed the carjackings in August 2022 in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood. The first incident occurred in the drive-thru area of a coffee shop, where Edwards shot the driver in the leg after receiving the car keys and ordering the victim out of the vehicle. Prosecutors stated that before firing his weapon, Edwards asked the victim, “Why are you not scared?” The other two carjackings took place outside a convenience store at a gas station. In each case, Edwards threatened drivers with a firearm and demanded their keys.
Edwards was arrested later in 2022 and has remained in custody since his arrest. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.
The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera represented the government during proceedings.
Alerts Sign-up