A federal grand jury on St. Croix returned a seven-count indictment charging Abdallah Abdallah, 23, with carjacking, using a firearm during crime of violence, first-degree robbery, unauthorized possession of firearm during violent crime, possession of stolen property, unauthorized possession of ammunition and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharp announced the indictment on Tuesday. The indictment was handed down by the grand jury on March 19.
According to the indictment, on Dec. 24, 2013, Abdallah is charged with carjacking – with another man – a red Ford Focus at gunpoint.
If convicted of the carjacking offense as alleged in count one of the indictment, Abdallah faces up to 15 years in federal prison. In addition, if Abdallah is convicted of using a firearm in connection with the carjacking offense, as alleged in count two, he faces a mandatory sentence of seven years in federal prison, which by law must be served consecutively to any sentence he receives for the carjacking offense.
Abdallah appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon for a detention hearing and was ordered detained pending trial. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Alphonso Andrews are prosecuting it.
