A New Orleans man will spend nearly three decades in federal prison after a 2024 armed carjacking ended in a violent collision with an 18-wheeler.
On May 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced 30-year-old Jovante Matthews to 350 months behind bars. Because of his extensive criminal history, Matthews was designated as an Armed Career Criminal, a status that significantly increased his prison time. Following his release, he will face five years of supervised probation.
The federal conviction stems from an incident around noon on April 3, 2024. According to court records, Matthews approached two contractors working on a home renovation in the Hollygrove neighborhood. Armed with a semi-automatic handgun, Matthews held the weapon to the head of one contractor, demanding his wallet and keys. He then fled the scene in the company’s Ford F-350 work truck…