Newark Man Found Guilty of Brandishing Shotgun in Carjacking

A Newark man was found guilty Monday of brandishing a shotgun in a 2011 carjacking in Little Falls, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Ivan Lee, 26, was found guilty following a one-week trial of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The jury reached a verdict after deliberating for three hours. Lee previously pleaded guilty to the carjacking count.

Lee faces up to 15 years in prison for the carjacking charge and faces seven years to life for the firearm charge, which must run consecutively to any other prison term, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Each of the two counts carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 21.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lee and Hanza Darby, 25, of Newark, carjacked a 2008 BMW 335 in Little Falls on Oct. 30, 2011. Darby and Lee, who brandished the shotgun, ordered the occupants out of the vehicle at gunpoint, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Lee then took the car and fled the area. Authorities recovered the vehicle in Newark on Nov. 7, 2011 with Darby standing next to it at the time, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Darby previously pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing a weapon in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is awaiting sentencing.