25-Year-Old Daby Woman Pleads Guilty Of Charges For January 31st Carjacking
Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 8:30 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.- On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, a 25-year-old Darby, Pennsylvania, woman appeared in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and admitted guilt in connection with the January 31, 2024, armed carjacking in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
According to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, Nateirah Ortiz, 25, appeared before United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney and pleaded guilty to one count of Carjacking; one count of Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
   Ortiz was previously charged with the offenses in a federal grand jury indictment that was returned in April 2024 for an armed carjacking that took place during the evening hours of January 31, 2024, in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Facts Contained In The Indictment
According to the information contained within the charging indictment, on January 31, 2024, at around 7:00 p.m., a victim reported to police that he had been carjacked on the 1100 Block of Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia.
Victim Calls 911
The man reported to police that while walking to his vehicle, a silver Toyota RAV4, Ortiz demanded his car keys while pointing a gun at him. The man complied, giving Ortiz his keys, and then ran into a nearby business and requested assistance calling 911. Ortiz entered the Toyota and fled the scene.
Responding Police Officers quickly issued a citywide alert for the vehicle. Just around 9:15 p.m., 24th District Patrol Police Officers observed the Toyota traveling on the 3100 Block of Kensington Avenue. They attempted to conduct a felony car stop on the vehicle by pulling in front of the Toyota with their patrol car while another marked patrol unit stopped behind the Toyota.
As Police Officers exited their vehicles and approached the Toyota, Ortiz went around the police vehicles, nearly striking one of them, and fled the area at a high rate of speed. The Police Officers quickly issued an all-points bulletin for the Toyota and Ortiz.
As Police Officers drove down Richmond Street, they noticed a Toyota RAV4 matching the description that had crashed into parked vehicles on the 3700 Block of Richmond Street. Police Officers noticed Ortiz walking from the scene and quickly apprehended her, as other Officers found the loaded handgun under a nearby van just a few feet from where the Toyota crashed into the parked vehicles.
U.S. Attorney States
“Carjackings are crimes that can terrorize victims and rattle the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “That’s exactly why my office is committed to prosecuting these cases, working in lockstep with the Philadelphia Police Department and our federal partners to take violent criminals off the streets. By holding carjackers like Nateirah Ortiz responsible for their actions, we’re having a direct effect on public safety in Philadelphia.”
   “This case again shows that carjacking is dangerous and a serious federal crime, requiring many years in federal prison at a minimum,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “The perpetrator’s reckless actions caused extensive property damage and put the victim and bystanders in grave danger. ATF Philadelphia Division applies our unique forensic and investigative tools with the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to solve crimes and to make our communities safer.”
Ortiz Faces Life In Prison
Sentencing for Ortiz has been scheduled for December 18, 2024, at which time she will face a maximum of life and a mandatory minimum of seven years in federal prison.
