New Haven Man, 19, Admits Role In 5 Carjackings: Feds

Tihaja Ortiz-Tucker, also known as “TJ,” pleaded guilty Tuesday in New Haven federal court to carjacking and conspiracy offenses, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced. Authorities said that between March and July 2022, Ortiz-Tucker and others posed as interested buyers of motor vehicles advertised by Connecticut residents on Facebook Marketplace. “On three occasions, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators arranged to meet in person with the victim-sellers for the purported purpose of test driving and purchasing the motor vehicles,” officials wrote in a news release. “At the conclusion of the...