By TopTrendReportTv

January 25, 2025

Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Armed Carjackings While on Parole

CHICAGO — A 27-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to committing three armed carjackings while on parole for previous stolen vehicle cases. Judge Steven Watkins handed down the sentence to Taj Newson, who will serve the terms concurrently.

Prosecutors said Newson, who has three prior convictions for possessing stolen vehicles, was on parole for two of those cases when he carried out the carjackings.

In the first incident on October 9, 2023, Newson carjacked a driver in the 3000 block of West 52nd Street. He struck again on November 7, 2023, in a bank parking lot in the 5400 block of West Belmont.

On November 16, 2023, Newson arranged to test drive a 2004 Chevy that was for sale. During the drive, he forced the owner out of the car in the 4200 block of North Pulaski, reportedly telling the victim, “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Chicago police tracked the stolen Chevy about two hours later using the city’s license plate reader network. Officers stopped the vehicle in the 3600 block of West Roosevelt, where Newson claimed he was “testing [the car] for a client,” according to the arrest report.

Newson pleaded guilty to all three carjackings. Judge Watkins sentenced him to 15 years for each case, with the sentences to be served concurrently. With good behavior, Newson could be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.