Men Charged in Carjacking Spree

 Two Essex County men, including one city resident,  appeared in Newark federal court Jan. 3  in connection with charges arising out of three carjackings that occurred on the same day in March 2012 in Essex and Hudson counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Louis Holmes, 24, of Newark, is charged in a five-count complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking; three counts of theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Rosendo Perez, 24, of Irvington, is charged in the same complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking; one count of theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Both were already in state custody when they were charged by complaint on Dec. 20, 2012. They both made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court Thursday.

Authorities allege that on March 27, 2012, the men approached two people sitting in a parked 2009 Acura TL near S. 17 Street. Holmes reportedly pointed a weapon at the victims and both ordered them out of the car.

Later that night, Holmes allegedly accosted an individual who was approaching a parked 2010 Nissan Maxima parked in a McDonald’s parking lot on Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City. Holmes pointed a firearm at the victims, demanded the car keys, and ordered one victim out of the car. Holmes then fled the area in the carjacked vehicle.

One hour later, Holmes approached an individual who was standing near a 2008 Nissan Altima in the area of Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Newark. Holmes pointed a firearm at the victim and demanded the car keys. Holmes then fled the area in the carjacked vehicle.

The next day, police observed the carjacked 2009 Acura TL and chased it through Newark and East Orange until Perez, the driver of the carjacked vehicle, lost control of the car and crashed. Holmes was a passenger of the carjacked vehicle. Both Holmes and Perez were caught after trying to run from the scene, the US Attorney’s Office said. Just before he was apprehended, Holmes allegedly threw a handgun loaded with six hollow-point rounds to the ground.