Seattle man sentenced to 27 years for violent King County carjacking spree

In January, Maar Teng Rambang was convicted of three counts of carjacking and three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

At Monday’s sentencing hearing, the judge said Rambang committed “serious, terrible crimes’ that resulted in serious physical injury to one of the victims and lasting psychological damage to all three victims,” according to a news release.

The countywide crime spree spanned from Kent to Bellevue, to Redmond, to Seattle, and ultimately ended up in Renton.

“This defendant violently threatened two people and shot a third and then drove at a high rate of speed recklessly throughout King County,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “It is just by luck that no one was killed in this crime spree. The mandatory minimum sentence for this crime means this 27-year sentence is required and appropriate for this dangerous, violent conduct.”

Carjacking suspect traveled across King County in crime spree

Just before noon on November 7, 2022, Rambang confronted a woman who was sitting in her car outside the Kent East Hill Post Office, according to records filed in the case.

Rambang held the woman at gunpoint and ordered her to exit her vehicle. He then stole the vehicle and drove it to the Bellevue Square Mall garage, where he fired his gun as he threatened another woman and demanded her vehicle.

Rambang drove the stolen BMW to Redmond and attempted to rob Amazon employees who were working at a delivery locker for a Whole Foods Market.

He then drove the BMW to the Eastlake neighborhood in Seattle, where he shot a man in the leg and stole his Jeep SUV.

Law enforcement tracked the Jeep to Kent, where they attempted to stop and arrest Rambang, but he fled at speeds of 90 to 100 mph through heavy traffic.

Rambang drove in center lanes, through gas station parking lots, and ran red lights. Ultimately, officers in Renton were able to block the car and arrest Rambang.

“The victims were everyday people trying to do everyday things. The defendant’s crime spree turned these everyday things into nightmares for the victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg said in closing arguments at the trial.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour after a four-day jury trial.