Louisville City Wire

This week, a man from Louisville, Kentucky, admitted guilt in a carjacking case that resulted in the death of a teenage driver. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury from the Louisville Field Office, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, and Shelby County Sheriff Mark Moore.

Court documents reveal that Michael Dewitt pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with carjacking leading to death. On March 1, 2021, Dewitt executed a gunpoint carjacking and took possession of a 2011 Ford F350 in Simpsonville, Kentucky. During his escape on Dixie Highway in Louisville with the stolen vehicle, he collided with another vehicle resulting in the death of a 17-year-old.

The sentencing is set for January 27, 2025. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine Dewitt's sentence after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. If accepted by the court, Dewitt's plea agreement stipulates he will serve 29 years and four months.

Federal law does not allow for parole.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Louisville Field Office alongside the Louisville Metro Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Bonar and Mac Shannon are handling prosecution duties for this case.

This legal proceeding is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which collaborates with various levels of law enforcement and community members to curb violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. On May 26, 2021, PSN introduced an updated strategy focused on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.