Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ROME, Ga. - Rodney Scott Blankenship has been sentenced to 17 years, and four months in prison for carjacking a Cedartown woman at gun point on August 31, 2012.

“This Defendant showed no regard for who he might have injured or killed during his crime spree,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “The violent carjacking and police chase started in northwest Georgia, and the significant sentence appropriately reflects the serious danger he caused to both citizens and police.”

“This sentence is another reminder that ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crimes along with our law enforcement partners,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer.   “We will not allow residents to suffer such criminal behavior, especially that which threatens the safety of innocent civilians and law enforcement officers.”       

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Rodney Scott Blankenship took a Cedartown woman's car at gunpoint on the evening of August 31, 2012.  During the course of the carjacking, he twice pointed his gun at the woman's boyfriend and pulled the trigger.  Fortunately for all, on both occasions, the gun failed to discharge.  The woman's boyfriend called 911, and when law enforcement arrived on the scene Blankenship fled in the woman's car, ramming a Cedartown patrol car in the process.  Blankenship then led police on a high speed chase until he crashed the vehicle.  After crashing the vehicle he attempted to flee the police on foot, but was apprehended.

Blankenship, 31, of Cedartown, Ga., has been sentenced by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy, to 17 years, four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Blankenship was convicted on these charges on December 6, 2013, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorney Matthew S. Carrico prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Rome Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.

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