Richard G. Frohling, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District, announced the sentencing of James Poole to 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in armed carjackings in Milwaukee. The 19-year-old was found guilty of participating in two carjackings in late January 2024, where he brandished a firearm on each occasion.
Court documents reveal that on January 29, 2024, at approximately 7:45 pm, Poole committed a carjacking on the 2400 block of N. Farwell Avenue. The following day, around 5:00 pm, he was involved in another carjacking near 2nd Street and Plankinton Avenue. During a subsequent police pursuit, Poole crashed the stolen vehicle into a tree, causing life-threatening injuries to the passengers. Post-imprisonment, Poole will be under supervised release for three years and is also responsible for paying restitution.
Jabari Griffin, 21 and Poole's co-defendant, was previously sentenced on February 27, 2025, to six years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for aiding in the January 30 carjacking.
“Individuals who engage in violent crimes – like these armed carjackings – not only endanger the lives and well-being of their victims but also can shatter the confidence of all residents that our cities are safe places in which to live and work,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. He emphasized the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to collaborate with law enforcement bodies to ensure accountability and justice.
FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle commented on the case's public safety implications. “Armed carjackings and the dangerous actions of those who committed the offenses in this case endangered the public and impacted the victims of this crime. This sentencing reflects the severity of the crimes committed by James Poole,” he said, reinforcing the FBI's focus on combating violent crime.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman praised the collective efforts to hold violent criminals accountable. “The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in holding violent individuals accountable for their actions. Armed carjackings are violent acts that cause great harm to our community. Those that bring harm to our community must be held accountable,” said Chief Norman.
The case was handled by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Michael C. Schindhelm.
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