Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for an August 2016 carjacking of a man in a hotel parking lot in Newport News.

According to court documents, Adrian Briggs, 21, approached the victim’s car and asked to borrow his cell phone. The victim obliged and Briggs made small talk with the man, used the victim’s phone, and asked the victim for bus fare, which the victim provided. After approximately 30 minutes, Briggs pulled a firearm from his waistband and threatened to shoot the victim. Briggs then stole the victim’s car, wallet, and cell phone. The Newport News Police located the victim’s car the following day, and matched a fingerprint found on an item in the car to Briggs. Law enforcement also pulled phone records from the victim’s cell phone and found that Briggs had called his mother from the victim’s phone twice on the morning of the crime. In between the calls, Briggs also used the victim’s credit card to rent movies at a Redbox in Hampton. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Lipman prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-33.