FARGO (KFGO) – A Belcourt, North Dakota man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for a carjacking in Fargo.
32-year-old John Thomas Poitra approached someone who had just parked their pickup near 6th Ave. and 8th St. N last March. He demanded the keys and threatened to stab the owner.
Police spotted Poitra driving the pickup the wrong way on 10th St. S. he refused to stop and collided with two vehicles. Fargo police and the North Dakota Highway Patrol followed Poitra eastbound on I-94. he was eventually stopped by Clay County, Minn. deputies. Poitra pleaded guilty.
“Carjackings strike at the heart of a community’s sense of safety and security, and we hope today’s strong sentence will cause anyone to think twice before taking advantage of an unsuspecting victim targeted simply because of the type of car they drive,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul. “I want to thank our local partners for their quick work on this case which helped ensure Mr. Poitra’s joyride took him straight to federal prison.”
