Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ELBERT LLORENS, 24, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford to a federal carjacking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 1, 2016, two men from out of state who were driving a rented 2015 Volkswagen Passat were victims of an armed carjacking in the vicinity of Hobart Street and Myrtle Street in Meriden. The victims reported that they had stopped to ask an individual, later identified as Kyle Valentine, for directions to a gas station. Valentine told the victims to follow his car, which they did. After traveling a few minutes, Valentine’s car stopped and LLORRENS pointed a handgun at one of the victims who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, opened the door and stated “I want everything.” The victims exited the car and LLORRENS and Valentine stole their wallets and cell phones and then drove away in the Passat.
In pleading guilty, LLORRENS also admitted that, on January 3, 2016, he committed armed robberies of a gas station in East Haven and a gas station in New Haven; on January 4, 2016, he attempted to rob a convenience store in Milford; and, on January 5, 2016, he used a firearm and threats of violence to steal a 2006 Chevy Cobalt and a wallet from a victim in New Haven.
LLORRENS was arrested by New Haven Police shortly after the January 5 carjacking.
LLORRENS pleaded guilty to one count of taking a motor vehicle from a person by force and violence or by intimidation, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 15, 2017. LLORRENS has been detained since his arrest.
Valentine, 25, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to the same charge on August 11, 2016. He awaits sentencing, and also is detained.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Haven, Meriden, Milford and New Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.