Egyptian National Arrested and Indicted by Grand Jury After Allegedly Brutally Beating a Man During a Carjacking in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - A U.S. Magistrate Judge found a lawful alien from Egypt an unmanageable risk and ordered him detained during his arraignment and detention hearing this week at the federal courthouse.

Last week, a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging Gwen Manot Scholl Agake, aka John Agake, 22, of Salt Lake City, Utah, with carjacking after he allegedly attempted to steal a victim's vehicle and attacked him with a long metal bar causing serious injuries to his face, shoulder, and head.

According to court documents, on July 6, 2026, Agake attempted to steal a vehicle and violently attacked the owner of the vehicle who tried to stop him. As alleged, the victim was working on patrol as a security guard at a business when he noticed at 3:20 a.m. a light coming from his parked vehicle. He approached the vehicle and encountered Agake. The victim told Agake to get out of his car and Agake brandished a long metal bar and demanded the keys from the victim. The victim refused and the defendant got out of the car swinging the metal bar, striking the victim in the head and shoulders and again demanding the keys while striking the victim. The victim was able to run away and get inside the business but not before Agake, who was chasing after him, also entered the building. Once inside, the defendant further assaulted the victim, striking him several times in the face and head. While beating the victim Agake continued to demand the keys and yelled "you should have given me the keys" and "you shouldn't have called the cops." The victim suffered severe injuries to his head, face, and body. Agake exited the building by breaking out a large window with a metal bar and caused an injury to his arm leaving a trail of blood.

The attack, both inside and outside the business, was captured by surveillance video. The victim's co-worker witnessed the attack on closed-circuit television (CCTV) after the victim managed to radio her. The co-worker quickly called the Salt Lake City Police Department, who quickly responded. Upon SLCPD's arrival, they followed Agake's trail of blood, found him hiding at a nearby business on North Temple, and arrested him.

According to court documents, Agake is a lawful resident alien who has applied for citizenship, but his application is now on hold due to the indictment. He is subject to removal or deportation after serving a period of incarceration.

Agake is charged with carjacking. A jury trial is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 7.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.