Newark Man Admits to Series of Armed Carjackings

A Newark man pleaded guilty Tuesday to his role in three gunpoint carjackings and an attempted carjacking as well as firing a weapon during one of the incidents during a one-week crime spree in 2012, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Corey Thermitus, 22, pleaded guilty to all three counts of theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence and intimidation; one count of attempted carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during a violent crime.

According to court documents, Thermitus was a passenger in a car that stopped in the Ironbound section of Newark on Dec. 21, 2012. Thermitus and several others exited their car and approached two people standing near a Toyota Carolla that had just been parked. Thermitus brandished a handgun and another man took the keys to the Carolla, according to court documents.

Thermitus also admitted that he and another man approached a Nissan Altima in the area of 6th Avenue and North 9th Street in Newark on Dec. 26, 2012, according to court documents. Thermitus approached the passenger side of the vehicle and attempted to open the door, but the victim resisted and held the door closed, court documents said. Thermitus instructed his accomplice to shoot the other victim who was standing next to the car, according to court documents. Both victims then stepped away and the men drove off in the stolen vehicle, court documents said.

Thermitus admitted he took a Honda Accord at gunpoint from a victim who was inside the car in a driveway outside a Newark home on Dec. 28, 2012. The victim exited the vehicle and Thermitus and two others fled the scene in the Accord, according to court documents.

About an hour later, the three men drove the Accord to Midland Place in Newark where they attempted to carjack a Nissan Pathfinder at gunpoint, court documents said. Thermitus and another man approached the SUV while one of the owner was parking the vehicle in the garage of the residence. 

Thermitus pointed the gun at the driver, who sped down the driveway and down the street to escape the carjacking attempt, court documents said. The victim then returned to the home a few moments later and found the men trying to escape in the Accord, according to court documents. 

A neighbor then came outside to check on the commotion and Thermitus fired a shot at the person, according to court documents. The men fled the scene in the Accord and no one was injured in the incident.

Thermitus faces up to 15 years in prison for each carjacking and attempted carjacking charge. The discharging of a firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. The discharging of a firearm charge must also be served consecutive to any term imposed for the carjacking charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.