PHILADELPHIA — A Delaware County woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to carjacking and two related gun charges in connection with a January armed carjacking in South Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Nateirah Ortiz, 25, of Darby, admitted to carjacking a silver 2018 Toyota RAV4 on January 31. The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue. Ortiz brandished a firearm at the victim and demanded his car keys before fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle, authorities said.
The vehicle was located later that evening by police, who pursued Ortiz through the city. After crashing the RAV4 into several parked cars on Richmond Street, Ortiz attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended by officers, who recovered a loaded handgun nearby.
“Carjackings are crimes that can terrorize victims and rattle entire communities,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said. She emphasized her office’s commitment to prosecuting such crimes in collaboration with local and federal authorities.
Ortiz is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18 and faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life.