NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

MARCH 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN SENTENCED FOR CARJACKING

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for carjacking.

Demarko L. Collins, 20, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan this morning to six years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

On July 24, 2008, Collins pleaded guilty to robbing a victim at gunpoint on April 9, 2007. As the victim was sitting in his 2007 Dodge Charger in the parking lot at Mac’s South Blues and Jazz Club, Collins and an armed accomplice, co-defendant Frederick D. Darrington, Jr., 20, also of Kansas City, entered the vehicle. Collins sat in the front seat of the vehicle and pointed two handguns at the victim; Darrington sat in the back seat. The victim was ordered to give his wallet to Collins, then he left his car and ran away. Collins and Darrington drove off in the stolen car.

Police officers observed the stolen vehicle later that day and found it parked in front of a residence. Collins, who was sitting on the porch of the residence, took off running when officers approached, but was apprehended after a short foot chase. During a search at the time of his arrest, officers found the ignition key to the stolen vehicle in Collins’ pocket.

Darrington pleaded guilty on Monday, July 21, 2008, to two separate counts of carjacking and to using a firearm during a crime of violence. Darrington also admitted that he shot and wounded a police officer during a pursuit prior to his arrest. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Darrington will be sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

Darrington admitted that he robbed a victim at gunpoint on April 29, 2007, while the victim was putting gas into his 2007 Dodge Charger at a gas station. Darrington also admitted that he robbed a man and woman at gunpoint on May 19, 2007, while they were in the man’s 1999 Jeep Cherokee, backing out of her apartment complex parking space.

On June 5, 2007, a Kansas City, Mo., police officer attempted to conduct a vehicle check on a stolen 1992 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Darrington. The Camaro had been stolen during a carjacking in Kansas City, Kan., earlier that evening. Darrington fled from the officer until the Camaro became disabled. Darrington eventually stopped at 40 Highway and Sterling Road in Independence, Mo. Darrington left the vehicle and fired numerous rounds at the officer from a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol. The police officer was shot in the foot and his patrol car was riddled with bullets. Darrington ran from the scene, but approximately 30 minutes later was discovered by officers hiding beneath a car in a garage at a nearby residence. Darrington was arrested and officers recovered a Cobra semi-automatic 9 mm pistol from the area where he was hiding.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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