Damon Bell, a 32-year-old resident of Philadelphia, was sentenced to eight and a half years in federal prison for his involvement in a violent carjacking that took place in Center City. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf. In addition to the prison term, Bell received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $14,711.27 in restitution. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mia Roberts Perez.
Bell faced charges after being indicted on one count of carjacking in October 2024. He pleaded guilty to the charge in July of last year.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 15, 2024, at around 3:20 a.m., when the victim was sitting inside his vehicle at a parking lot located at 13th and Vine streets. Bell and three others approached the victim while armed with guns and demanded his keys. When the victim attempted to drive away, he was blocked by another vehicle.
The filings state that after complying with their demands and exiting his car, the victim was struck multiple times in the head with a pistol. The victim managed to flee on foot while Bell and his accomplices left the scene using both vehicles.
The investigation into this case involved cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Philadelphia Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert along with Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.
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