Convicted carjacker headed to prison after fleeing police while carrying gun

Published 7:06 am Thursday, March 14, 2024

A convicted Alabama carjacker who fled from police while on probation and was found illegally possessing a firearm was sentenced to additional prison time this week.

Vincent Cole, 35, of Mobile, was sentenced to prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm while on supervision for a previous federal conviction for carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on March 10, 2023, Cole was arrested by Mobile Police Department (MPD) following a traffic stop and high-speed chase through a residential area in Mobile.

Cole initially stopped his car and spoke to MPD officers. While speaking to the MPD officers, Cole sped off at a high speed. MPD officers returned to their police cruiser and pursued him.

Cole lost control of his vehicle and slid off the road just over a quarter of a mile away from the initial traffic stop. Cole climbed out of his car and was quickly apprehended. MPD officers found a loaded Glock Model 19 firearm inside the glovebox of Cole’s car. Cole admitted that he possessed the firearm found in the glovebox of his car.

Cole was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Cole to 64 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.

Because Cole was on federal supervision when he illegally possessed a firearm, Judge Moorer found that Cole violated the conditions of his supervised release term he was serving for his prior felony convictions. Cole was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his new criminal conduct while on supervision, to run consecutive to his 64-month sentence.

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.