Date: 10-24-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Keenan Righter

Case Number:

Judge:

Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Two Violent Delco Carjackings
Driver Sentenced to Almost 16 Years in Prison for His Role in Two Violent Delco Carjackings

In April of 2023, Jamar Miller, 24, of Claymont, Delaware and codefendant Keenan Righter were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, two counts of carjacking, and two counts of using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with these carjackings.

Miller pleaded guilty to all the charges in March of this year.

In May, a federal jury convicted Righter on all counts; he was sentenced last week to 280 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

On January 14, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m., Miller drove Righter and another male to a Wawa on Route 322 in Upper Chichester Township, Delaware County. Righter and the other male then ambushed a 23-year-old college student who was walking to his car after leaving the store. The men, each brandishing firearms and wearing masks to disguise their identities, demanded the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint. They pistol-whipped the victim in the back of the head and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle, with Miller following in his own car.

On January 24, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Miller drove Righter and another male to a Wawa on Edgmont Avenue in Brookhaven, Delaware County. Again, Righter and the other male wore masks and carried firearms as they carjacked a 33-year-old victim at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Wawa. The two men pistol-whipped the victim multiple times in the head with a firearm as they stole his belongings and fled the scene in his car, with Miller again trailing behind them in his vehicle.

“Jamar Miller drove his co-conspirators to the crime scenes, watched as they violently carjacked two innocent people, and followed as they fled in the stolen vehicles,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “As his almost 16-year prison sentence shows, even a supporting role in a carjacking can lead to federal charges — and utterly life-changing consequences.”

“Today’s sentencing demonstrates how strong partnerships in law enforcement contribute to safer communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Our office, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local law enforcement partners, will not relent in our efforts toward safer neighborhoods for all of us.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, the Brookhaven Police Department, and Upper Chichester Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Doherty and Branwen McNabb O’Donnell.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 280 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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