Felon Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges Of Murder and Armed Carjacking In Northeast Philly Crime Spree



by Alex Lloyd Gross

United States Attorney General Jaqueline Romero announced the guilty plea from a 2021 crime spree in which a thief beat food delivery drivers and stole their vehicles. John Nusslein, 19, of Philadelphia, PA, pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, one count of carjacking resulting in death, and one count of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury.

It was back in December 2021,when the robberies happened.

On December 2, 2021, Nusslein and two others placed a food delivery order to an address on the 3000 block of Teesdale Street in Philadelphia, as a ruse to lure their intended victim to that location. At approximately 7:00 p.m., when a food delivery driver, arrived at that location, Nusslein, Person 1, and Person 2 approached C.C. and struck him repeatedly to facilitate the taking of their vehicle, a 2004 Toyota Camry. Nusslein, Person 1, and Person 2 then fled the area in the driver’ss stolen Toyota Camry. The driver. was later taken to the hospital by first responders. On December 21, 2021, he. succumbed to his injuries and the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was the assault that the victim. sustained during the carjacking.

• On December 16, 2021, Nusslein and Person 1 placed a food delivery order to an address on the 9000 block of Hilspach Street in Philadelphia, as a ruse to lure their intended victim to that location. At approximately 9:10 p.m., when a food delivery driver, arrived at that location, Nusslein and Person 1 approached W.Z., pointed a firearm at him, demanded his money, and struck him to facilitate the taking of W.Z.’s vehicle, a 2015 Infiniti QX5. Nusslein and Person 1 then fled the area in W.Z.’s stolen Infiniti QX5.

“Carjacking is a serious federal crime with lengthy prison sentences. This case also demonstrates that carjacking is a deadly dangerous crime,” said Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Philadelphia Field Division. “ATF Philadelphia Field Division is working diligently with our partners in the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force, sharing the ATF’s unique forensic and investigative tools to ensure justice for the victims and to make our communities safer through federal prosecution.”

Nusslein will be sentenced sentenced on July 31, 2024, before United States District Court Judge John M. Younge, and faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.