The carjackings occurred in September of 2013
NEWARK -- Two Newark men admitted on Thursday to carrying out two armed carjackings and an attempted carjacking over the course of five days in September of 2013, authorities said.
Dino Hines, 23, and Roosevelt Robinson, 25, each pleaded guilty to charges of attempted carjacking, carjacking and using a crime of violence in U.S. District Court in Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Authorities say Hines, Robinson and another man approached a Mercedes-Benz sedan at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2013 that was parked in a residential driveway in Newark.
Hines brandished a silver revolver during this carjacking and ordered the driver out of the vehicle. The trio pulled on the driver's side door but the driver resisted.
Robinson, during this exchanged, said, "Shoot that (expletive)," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The driver eventually got out of the car and Robinson sat in the driver's seat.
After Robinson got into the car, Hines and the other man fled on foot. The driver, however, pulled Robinson from the Mercedes-Benz, got back into the car and reversed it.
Hines then returned, fired two shots at the car, hitting the rear driver's side door. The trio then ran down the block, jumped into a car waiting nearby and tried to flee but the driver of the Mercedes-Benz pursued them.
The Mercedes-Benz struck both Robinson and the getaway car before Robinson was able to get back into the getaway car. A car chase then ensued during which Hines fired another two shots at the Mercedes-Benz, authorities said.
A few days later -- at about 9:25 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2013 -- Hines approached another parked vehicle near a Newark residence. When the driver exited the vehicle, Hines pointed a black revolver at the driver, saying "Give me your car keys or I'll shoot."
While he was holding up this individual, another driver who had just parked a late-model Acura sedan in the parking lot, walked over to where Hines and the other victim were standing. Hines then pointed the gun at the owner of the Acura and demanded the keys. The Acura owner handed over the keys and Hines got into the car and fled, authorities said.
The next day, a dark-colored sports utility vehicle driven by an unknown individual pulled in front of a Range Rover stopped at an intersection in Belleville, blocking the Range Rover's path, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Hines then jumped out of the passenger side of the SUV and pointed a black handgun at the victim, while, Robinson, who followed the SUV in a separate vehicle, pulled over and stood watch.
Hines approached the driver's door of the Range Rover, pulled the driver out of the car and demanded the car keys. The driver complied and Hines got into the Range Rover and fled, following by the SUV and Robinson's vehicle.
Later that day, the Range Rover was located by law enforcement officials in Newark, and a car chase ensued. The Range Rover rammed several police vehicles before it was trapped and stopped.
Officers surrounded the vehicle with guns drawn, and Hines and Robinson exited the Range Rover and ran. They were taken into custody a short time later. A third individual, who was also in the Range Rover, was taken into custody immediately after the car was surrounded by officers.
Police discovered a loaded black revolver in the Range Rover when they searched the vehicle.
Hines, who pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking, and Robinson, who only pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking, each face a potential maximum penalty of 15 years and a $250,000 fine for each count of attempted carjacking and carjacking when they're sentenced next year. They also face a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Sentencing for Hines has been scheduled for Jan. 11, 2017, and for Robinson, Jan. 12, 2017.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.