Minneapolis woman sentenced to eight years for violent carjackings in 2020
Jan. 24—A Minneapolis woman was sentenced this month to eight years in prison for her role in several violent carjackings in the Twin Cities in 2020, one which left a St. Paul newspaper deliveryman seriously injured.
Krisanne Marie Benjamin, 25, was sentenced this month in federal court by U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz for incidents that occurred in Richfield, Maple Grove and St. Paul.
Benjamin and her accomplice Jeremiah Lee Ironrope, 25, often physically assaulted the drivers before taking their vehicles, according to authorities.
"The recent spike in carjackings has spread a sense of terror and fear across our communities, and we are pleased that this sentence sends a strong message of deterrence to those seeking to victimize our neighbors," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul.
Benjamin also was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $13,323 in restitution, according to acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2020, Benjamin and Ironrope drove a maroon SUV to a parking lot in Richfield, where they parked near a 2017 Audi. Ironrope approached the driver of the Audi and pointed a shotgun with a sawed-off barrel at the driver and demanded the car keys. Benjamin kept watch from the SUV as Ironrope started the Audi. She followed when he drove away.
The Minnesota State Patrol used GPS data to track and locate the stolen Audi. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Ironrope drove away at a high rate of speed, cutting across multiple lanes of traffic, swerving between cars and driving through red lights. At one point, Benjamin got out of the vehicle and fled on foot while Ironrope continued fleeing in the Audi. Law enforcement located the vehicle running and unoccupied in Minneapolis. The two suspects were found and arrested.
On Sept. 7, 2021, Benjamin pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting carjacking. Two days later, Ironrope pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. He will be sentenced April 7.
As part of their guilty pleas, Ironrope and Benjamin admitted to the Maple Grove and St. Paul carjackings. In St. Paul, a 64-year-old newspaper deliveryman was left with broken bones around his left eye, his cheekbone and jawbone. Three of his teeth were knocked out; his shoulder, foot and arm were broken and both ankles were severely sprained.
Ironrope also admitted to two December 2020 carjackings in St. Louis Park and St. Paul. In both instances, Ironrope pointed a handgun at the drivers before stealing their vehicles.
"We will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who perpetrate this type of violence in our communities," Kovats said.
