DETROIT, MI – The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the 15-year federal prison sentence of Darese Deandre Haile, who carjacked four Lyft drivers during a series of violent armed robberies across Michigan.
According to court records, Haile and an unidentified accomplice targeted Lyft drivers between May and late 2022. In each case, the assailants brandished firearms, ordered the drivers out of their vehicles, and forced them to remove their clothing before fleeing with their cars and belongings. One victim was pistol-whipped and left injured on the roadside.
Evidence tied Haile to the crimes through cell phone data, Lyft account records, and victim identification. Police later found multiple firearms, stolen vehicles, and key fobs at his residence. Haile pleaded guilty to four counts of carjacking and aiding and abetting.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan sentenced Haile to 180 months in prison, an upward variance from the federal guidelines of 121 to 151 months. The court cited the “particularly vicious” nature of the crimes, the humiliation inflicted on victims, and Haile’s prior convictions.
Haile appealed, arguing the enhancements were excessive and that his youth and limited role were not properly considered. The appellate panel, in an opinion by Judge McKeague, rejected those arguments and found the sentence both procedurally and substantively reasonable.
The court concluded that Haile’s conduct and participation justified the enhancements and that the district court properly weighed the seriousness of the offenses. The judgment of the district court was affirmed.
