Deangelo Wooten, 27, Jaleel Fowler, 26, and several other co-conspirators have been indicted on a 57-count indictment in the Superior Court. They are charged as members of a conspiracy involved in multiple robberies, carjackings, and shootings across the District of Columbia from December 2023 to March 2024. This was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment accuses Wooten and Fowler of conspiracy, multiple carjackings and armed robberies, assaults with intent to kill, obstruction of justice, among other charges related to violent acts committed throughout late 2023 and early 2024. The document describes how firearms were used to steal cars and rob individuals during these offenses. Specific incidents include three carjackings involving rideshare drivers in December 2023 and January 2024, along with four separate shootings in the District between December 2023 and February 2024.
In December 2024, Washington D.C. recorded only 28 carjackings, marking the lowest monthly figure since May 2021. As of January 16, 2025, there have been ten carjackings reported.
"Despite the massive reduction in carjacking incidents," said U.S. Attorney Graves, "this Office remains vigilant in aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those committing these crimes because one carjacking is too many." He emphasized that this indictment demonstrates their commitment to holding offenders accountable through thorough investigation and prosecution.
The case is under investigation by the MPD and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Sara Matar from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.