NEW ORLEANS, LA – Onis Washington, 25, a resident of South Carolina, has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The sentencing took place on June 28, 2024, with U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey presiding. In addition to the prison term, Washington received three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The carjacking incident occurred on January 2, 2022, in the 1000 block of Carondelet Street. Washington and his co-defendant forcefully stole a vehicle from a victim and fled. The stolen vehicle was later spotted by the Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department, but the suspects refused to stop, leading to a chase. During the pursuit, Washington and his co-defendant crashed the stolen vehicle after hitting several other vehicles and then fled on foot. Washington was eventually arrested in South Carolina.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust in communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, emphasizing these core principles.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.