PHILADELPHIA, PA — Five Philadelphia men were convicted at trial Thursday of conspiring to carry out armed carjackings across the region and sell the stolen vehicles for export overseas, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced.
Prosecutors said the defendants were part of a group responsible for dozens of carjackings between October 2021 and October 2022 in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs, including Yeadon, Millbourne, Lower Southampton, and King of Prussia.
Mikal McCracken, 24, Amin Muse, 24, and Aleem Abdul-Hakim, 23, were convicted on charges related to a February 2022 carjacking that resulted in the death of a former Marine.
McCracken and Muse were also convicted in connection with the killing of a potential witness days later, according to court filings.
Dean Fosque, 28, and Kavon Coleman, 23, were convicted on charges tied to multiple armed carjackings, some of which involved shootings.
Authorities said the group committed approximately 60 carjackings, including 29 charged in the superseding indictment, often carrying out multiple incidents in a single night.
Prosecutors said the defendants used firearms during the crimes and, in some cases, shot victims or fired at them.
In addition to vehicles, the group stole personal identification, credit cards, and cash, which were later used in fraud schemes, according to evidence presented at trial.
Investigators also found that several stolen vehicles were placed in shipping containers and sent to buyers in Africa for resale.
According to the evidence, the initial killing occurred on February 6, 2022, when McCracken, Muse, Abdul-Hakim, and another individual carjacked and fatally shot the victim.
Days later, members of the group killed a locksmith they believed could identify them to law enforcement after assisting with a replacement key for the stolen vehicle, prosecutors said.
“These convictions should send a clear message: those who commit brazen, violent crimes targeting our community will be identified, pursued, and held accountable,” said FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said the case involved coordinated and violent activity across multiple neighborhoods.
“These individuals didn’t just steal cars — they terrorized neighborhoods, took innocent lives, and attempted to silence witnesses,” Bethel said.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and face potential life sentences.
The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force, including the FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from federal agencies involved in tracking exported vehicles.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph LaBar and Katherine Shulman.
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