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

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Angel Fayez, 19, and Kevin Antun, a.k.a. Acquah Evans, 20, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to one count of carjacking, eight counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

Fayez and Antun were charged by indictment in March 2023 with these offenses, in connection with a series of gunpoint robberies of businesses in the Kensington and the Lower Northeast sections of Philadelphia.

According to the indictment, the defendants committed one carjacking and robbed a variety of small businesses, stealing approximately $3,613 total between November 22, 2022, and December 3, 2022. The incidents detailed are as follows:

  • On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun carjacked a woman at the Liberty gas station located at 3949 Kensington Avenue;
  • On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Dollar General located at 1240 E. Erie Avenue;
  • On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Popeyes located at 501 Adams Avenue;
  • On November 28, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Texas Chicken and Burger located at 3960 Kensington Avenue;
  • On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Wingstop located at 3855 Aramingo Avenue;
  • On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Wingstop located at 2118 Cottman Avenue;
  • On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Domino’s Pizza located at 6391 Oxford Avenue; and
  • On December 3, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Popeyes located at 3541 Aramingo Avenue.

“Fayez and Antun terrorized the community with their brazen gunpoint crimes, at times committing multiple armed robberies in the same day,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Taking repeat offenders like these off the street is a priority for my office and our law enforcement partners, as we work to crack down on violent crime in Philadelphia and keep the public safe.”   

“During their vicious crime spree, Fayez and Antun showed a complete disregard for public safety after carjacking an innocent woman and threatening multiple store employees with firearms,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “I want to thank the Philadelphia Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office as we work to protect the people of our district.”

“The brazen carjacking that initiated this crime spree and the violence used throughout these robberies put our community members at a real risk,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “I applaud the collaborative efforts of the Philadelphia Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Attorney’s Office that brought these individuals to justice. This case again demonstrates our commitment to tackling carjackings and gun violence that plague our city. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who choose to terrorize our neighborhoods and ensure they face the full force of the law.”

After pleading guilty, Fayez is set to be sentenced on May 29, 2024, and Antun on May 30, 2024, before the Honorable Juan R. Sanchez.

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 Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.