PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon announced Thursday that it will join a multi-state carjacking task force initiative led by the federal Department of Justice, aimed at coordinating efforts and focusing federal resources to help catch and prosecute carjackers.
The initiative will include a total of seven new carjacking task forces led by 10 U.S. Attorney's offices, according to a news release from the Oregon district office. It will also involve the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and will partner with local law enforcement agencies.
"We are pleased to join our Justice Department colleagues from across the country in taking this important, targeted step to address carjacking, a dangerous, violent crime. We thank all our law enforcement partners for their ongoing commitment to protecting Oregonians through this and other violent crime reduction efforts," Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, said in a statement.
The Oregon office said carjacking task forces have helped reduce carjacking rates in other cities, pointing to a 31% reduction in carjackings in Philadelphia from 2022 to 2023, a 29% reduction in Chicago from 2022 to 2023 and a 28% reduction in armed carjackings in Washington, D.C., so far this year compared to last year.
The news release also highlighted local efforts, including Tuesday's federal grand jury indictment against Raheim Carter, who was charged with a March 15 carjacking in North Portland.
The Western District of Washington is one of the participating offices and will also launch its own carjacking task force, according to a news release from that office.
"Our task force harnesses the resources of the FBI, ATF, the Seattle Police and Kent Police Departments. Prosecutors will look at all carjacking incidents in the district to see if federal prosecution is appropriate," said Tessa Gorman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. "Where adults are using juveniles to commit these crimes, we will explore significant federal penalties to hold the adults accountable."
