PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Philadelphia man who carried out a violent, pre-dawn carjacking in Center City has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison, U.S. prosecutors announced.
United States Attorney David Metcalf said Damon Bell, 32, was sentenced Thursday to 102 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $14,711.27 in restitution. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Mia Roberts Perez.
Bell was charged by federal indictment in October 2024 with one count of carjacking and pleaded guilty in July of last year.
According to the indictment and other public filings, the attack unfolded at approximately 3:20 a.m. on April 15, 2024, in a surface parking lot near 13th and Vine streets in Center City Philadelphia. The victim was seated inside his vehicle when Bell and three other individuals approached, brandished firearms, and demanded the car keys.
Investigators said the victim attempted to drive away but was blocked in by the offenders’ vehicle. When he complied and exited the car, the group pistol-whipped him repeatedly in the head. The victim was able to flee the scene on foot, while Bell and the others split between the victim’s car and the vehicle they arrived in before driving away.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.
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