ATF Online - Boston Field Division Press Release

Carjacker Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

William J. Edwards, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced that Mario Peterson, age 20,a member of the Cleveland STARBOYZ gang, was sentenced in Federal Court on September 8, 2008, to a term of imprisonment of 324 months (27 years) for his involvement in two separate carjackings and one robbery occurring in June of 2007. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin after Peterson had entered guilty pleas to the offenses. Peterson engaged in two separate carjackings where he used a firearm to forcibly remove passengers from automobiles and take the automobiles and other valuables including monies from the operators and/or owners of the vehicles. Peterson also used a firearm to rob a street vendor of goods and other monies which the vendor was selling in the Star-Decker neighborhood. In each of these instances, Peterson threatened the victims with the firearms. All of this conduct occurred within the area of East 79th and Decker Avenue of Cleveland on separate occasions during the month of June through August 2007.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts of the Cleveland U.S. Attorney’s Office, following an investigation by the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)and the Cleveland Police Department.

Former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto R. Gonzales selected Cleveland as one of six cities to implement the comprehensive anti-gang strategy known as the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI). CAGI integrates law enforcement, prevention, and prisoner re-entry, and aims to address gang membership and gang violence at every stage.

Those investigative agencies and departments participating in CAGI are as follows: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cleveland Division of Police (CPD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Police Department, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Department, United States Marshall’s Service, Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force, and Ohio Department of Corrections, Security Threat Group.

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	U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Northern District of Ohio William J. Edwards Acting United States Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 11, 2008	Robert F. Corts Assistant U.S. Attorney 216-622-3957
Carjacker Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison William J. Edwards, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced that Mario Peterson, age 20,a member of the Cleveland STARBOYZ gang, was sentenced in Federal Court on September 8, 2008, to a term of imprisonment of 324 months (27 years) for his involvement in two separate carjackings and one robbery occurring in June of 2007. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin after Peterson had entered guilty pleas to the offenses. Peterson engaged in two separate carjackings where he used a firearm to forcibly remove passengers from automobiles and take the automobiles and other valuables including monies from the operators and/or owners of the vehicles. Peterson also used a firearm to rob a street vendor of goods and other monies which the vendor was selling in the Star-Decker neighborhood. In each of these instances, Peterson threatened the victims with the firearms. All of this conduct occurred within the area of East 79th and Decker Avenue of Cleveland on separate occasions during the month of June through August 2007. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts of the Cleveland U.S. Attorney’s Office, following an investigation by the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)and the Cleveland Police Department. Former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto R. Gonzales selected Cleveland as one of six cities to implement the comprehensive anti-gang strategy known as the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI). CAGI integrates law enforcement, prevention, and prisoner re-entry, and aims to address gang membership and gang violence at every stage. Those investigative agencies and departments participating in CAGI are as follows: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cleveland Division of Police (CPD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Police Department, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Department, United States Marshall’s Service, Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force, and Ohio Department of Corrections, Security Threat Group. ####