MIAMI — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Florida, Southern), published as received.

MIAMI – A West Park man was sentenced to 319 months in federal prison for kidnapping a hired driver at gunpoint and forcing the victim to drive him and his associates away from the scene of a shooting. 

U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore imposed the sentence on Bakari Jahiem Dixson, 24, of West Park, following a jury trial conviction on one count of kidnapping, one count of carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. 

“After shooting a woman multiple times, Bakari Jahiem Dixson turned a hired driver into his getaway driver at gunpoint and threatened to kill him if he did not comply,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “This was a terrifying act of violence that showed complete disregard for human life. The more than 26-year sentence imposed holds Dixson accountable and protects the public from a dangerous armed offender.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 2, 2025, Dixson hired a chauffeur service in Fort Lauderdale. While waiting for transportation, the driver witnessed an altercation involving Dixson which culminated in Dixson shooting a woman multiple times. 

Immediately after the shooting, Dixson and several associates entered the victim’s vehicle. Brandishing a firearm, Dixson ordered the driver to “drive or be killed.” Fearing for his life, the driver complied and drove Dixson and the others from Fort Lauderdale to West Park before dropping them off at Dixson’s residence. 

Eleven days later, Dixson was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska.

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.

The ATF Miami Field Office investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille Smith and Justin McCormack prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60281.

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