PHILADELPHIA, PA — Alex Askew, a 20-year-old from Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison following a series of armed carjackings that targeted elderly victims. The sentence was handed down Monday by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage, reflecting the gravity of Askew’s actions in September 2022, which caused distress in the Philadelphia and Upper Darby communities.
Askew’s criminal activities unfolded over a brief but intense period between September 6 and September 12, 2022. During this time, Askew and his accomplices executed a spree of carjackings, each involving the use of firearms, which heightened the fear and danger faced by their victims. The perpetrators targeted older individuals, capitalizing on their vulnerability to achieve their illegal objectives.
The crime spree began on September 6, 2022, when Askew and two others carried out two carjackings just minutes apart. The first incident occurred on North 26th Street in Philadelphia, where the group threatened three individuals, aged 60 to 80, with firearms before stealing their Mitsubishi SUV. Shortly thereafter, the same group used the stolen vehicle to approach another victim on Brown Street, demanding her Kia Sportage at gunpoint.
The following evening, another armed carjacking took place in Upper Darby. Here, a 66-year-old woman was accosted at gunpoint outside her home, and her Acura SUV was stolen. On September 11, in a similar pattern of intimidation, Askew and his associates attempted yet another carjacking of a 71-year-old woman in Upper Darby, although this attempt was thwarted when the victim screamed and fled.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero emphasized the seriousness of these crimes, stating, “Alex Askew is 20 years old and was just sentenced to 21 years in prison. Anyone who’s out there committing carjackings, or even contemplating it, needs to think long and hard about whether stealing a car for a few hours or days is worth spending decades of your life behind bars.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, the Upper Darby Township Police Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department. This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety.
Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office, stressed the importance of addressing such violent acts decisively. “Carjacking is a serious and dangerous crime, and as this case shows, even a youthful offender like Askew can be sentenced to serious federal prison time for carjacking,” he stated.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt both commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in bringing Askew to justice. Superintendent Bernhardt reiterated the commitment to public safety, noting, “Alex Askew’s actions were not only dangerous but unacceptable… Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our town and ensure that those who commit crimes face justice.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel praised the dedication of officers and partner agencies in addressing the threat posed by such crimes: “These brazen carjackings were not only a threat to public safety but also a violation of the sense of security every individual deserves.”
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