NEW BERN — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Eastern), published as received.

NEW BERN – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced ANTONIO TAPIA DOMENA, Jr., 22, of Fayetteville to 141 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

DOMENA was named in an Indictment filed on November 27, 2018 charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Carjacking, and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.  On August 13, 2019, DOMENA pleaded guilty to Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence

According to the investigation, on July 23, 2018, three men approached a female soldier in the early morning hours and surrounded her as she was returning to her apartment. One of the men brandished a firearm, pushed her to the ground, and demanded her belongings. Another male stole her purse and removed the contents, stealing car keys, U.S. currency, Korean currency, and her cell phone. The suspects stole the victim’s vehicle, which contained military gear and other personal belongings. Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department responded, observed the vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop. All three individuals fled on foot, but officers successfully apprehended DOMENA. Officers then searched DOMENA and recovered a stolen .38 caliber revolver, an unknown amount of Korean currency, and $116 in U.S. currency.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative.  This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Chad Rhoades handled the prosecution of this case for the government.