PHILADELPHIA, PA — Kelly Stanton, 55, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for a violent carjacking incident that occurred in January 2023. United States District Judge R. Barclay Surrick also ordered Stanton to serve five years of supervised release and to pay restitution totaling $12,500.
Stanton pleaded guilty to the charges last October after being indicted in March 2023. Court documents describe how on the night of January 26, 2023, Stanton approached a woman who had parked her car on the 1600 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue. While the victim was returning to her vehicle after picking up a pizza, Stanton put a firearm to her head and said, “give me the f[***]ing keys or I’m going to shoot you.”
The victim managed to retrieve her keys from her pocket and handed them to Stanton before fleeing. Stanton then drove off in the stolen car, which remains unrecovered.
“The victim in this case was just going about her night when Stanton ambushed and terrorized her, putting his gun to her head and threatening to shoot,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “Anyone who would violently accost a stranger like this for their car, or any other possession, is a clear threat to our community. My office will continue to work with our partners on the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to bring these dangerous offenders to justice.”
Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division, Eric DeGree, emphasized the collaborative effort. “Kelly Stanton’s victim was picking up a pizza when he stuck a gun to her head and demanded her car keys — he’s now facing a dozen years in federal prison. Carjacking is a violent and dangerous crime. Together with our Carjacking Task Force partners we are using ATF’s unique forensic and investigative tools to stop criminals like this from terrorizing our neighborhoods. We hope this case deters those willing to use violence in our community.”
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon and Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza. Stanton’s sentencing stands as part of ongoing federal efforts to tackle violent crime in Philadelphia.
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