Armed Carjacker Exiled to 10 Years in Prison

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Tyrone Royster, age 24, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking and using a gun during the carjacking.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III of the Baltimore City Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.

According to Royster’s plea agreement, on December 25, 2010, a man was driving his car in the 3300 block of West Coldspring Lane in Baltimore. He stopped and gave Royster and Winston Golder a ride. As the man started to drive, he felt something on the back of his neck, and Royster, who sat in the front, demanded the driver’s money. The victim kept driving and started to take off his jacket, in which he had money. Royster then told Golder, who sat in the back, to shoot the driver when he takes his jacket off. The driver stopped his car, jumped out, left his jacket, and ran to a nearby store, where he called 911.

Baltimore County Police saw the victim’s car driven by Royster pass them without working headlights or taillights. As they began to follow the car, Royster turned abruptly and struck a curb. When the officers activated their lights and siren, Royster attempted to flee at a high rate of speed. Royster and Golder eventually attempted to exit the car and were subsequently arrested. Officers seized a loaded handgun from Golder.

Golder pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore City Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case, and Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Traci Robinson, who assisted in the federal prosecution as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.