Maurice Edwards, 22, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for an armed carjacking that took place in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. in March 2024. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Edwards was convicted by a D.C. Superior Court jury on November 21, 2024, on one count of armed carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He received 15 years for armed carjacking and five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence; the sentences will run concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of 15 years.
Armed carjacking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while possession of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The court rejected Edwards’ request to apply the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which could have allowed him to avoid the mandatory minimums. The court noted that Edwards had previously received a YRA sentence and was out on pretrial release for another gun offense at the time he committed this crime.
According to government evidence presented at trial, on March 11, 2024, Edwards drove through a stop sign and collided with another vehicle at the intersection of 48th Place and Lee Street Northeast as the victim was returning home from work. Edwards and his then-girlfriend, Auzsa Beatty, exited their vehicle and confronted the victim. Using a handgun to threaten the victim, Edwards forced him away from his car door. Beatty then entered the victim’s vehicle and drove away.
Auzsa Beatty pleaded guilty to unarmed carjacking related to this incident and was sentenced to seven years in prison on January 9, 2026.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and Mark Levy prosecuted the case.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined in announcing these developments.
“This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia,” said officials involved in prosecuting this matter.