Illegal Alien Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for 2025 Armed Carjacking, Attempted Carjacking in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mory Kante, 21, a French national illegally in the U.S., who has been residing in Wilmington, Delaware, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert for the carjacking and attempted carjacking of two women in one night.

The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in January of this year and charged by indictment the same month. He pleaded guilty in June to carjacking, attempted carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

As detailed in court filings, on November 20, 2025, at approximately 9:15 p.m., a woman ("Victim 1") parked her 2018 Honda Civic on the 1300 block of North Lawrence Street, got out of the vehicle, and walked away. She then saw the defendant run across the street and point a gun at her, saying "gimme your car keys" repeatedly. Victim 1 dropped her purse, and the defendant scooped it up and ran from the scene. Police subsequently found the purse on the street with some of the contents dumped out. Victim 1's camera, driver's license, two credit cards, debit card, wallet, and some cash were missing.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. that night, police responded to a report of an armed carjacking on the 700 block of West Girard Avenue, approximately seven blocks from where Victim 1 was robbed. A woman ("Victim 2") reported that a black male wearing all black clothing and a gray hat carjacked her at gunpoint. Victim 2 provided police with location data showing that her car, a 2019 Kia Optima, was near the intersection of Marvin Street and Wyoming Avenue, about four and a half miles north of the carjacking scene.

Police located the car and activated their lights and sirens. Kante fled in the vehicle and a brief chase ensued, before the defendant abandoned the car and fled on foot. Pursuing officers saw him toss away a gun, jump on the porch of a nearby residence, and push his way into the home. A SWAT team was called and located the defendant hiding in some bushes in the backyard.

This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Oshana.