A Buford man who carjacked a Flowery Branch woman’s car after burglarizing her home was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Thursday.
Rodolfo Esquivel, 28, a convicted felon, pleaded guilty June 5 to pointing a gun at the woman and threatening to kill her before fleeing in her car after an accomplice had abandoned him.
Prosecutors said Esquivel broke into the woman’s Hall County home in March 2011 while the unidentified accomplice waited outside in a car. When she arrived home and noticed the unfamiliar car she approached the accomplice.
The accomplice told the woman Esquivel was looking for a gas can and when she turned to approach her house, the accomplice sped off.
Prosecutors said Esquivel then emerged from the garage and when he saw that he had been abandoned, he pointed a gun at the woman and demanded her car keys. He also fired once into the ground and shouted, “This is real,” prosecutors said.
As the woman attempted to get her purse out of the car through an open window, prosecutors said Esquivel pointed the gun at her again and warned, “I will kill you.” After he fled, the woman called 911 from a neighbor’s home.
In addition to his sentence, Esquivel was ordered to pay $10,034 in restitution. Prosecutors said Esquivel had at least two prior felony convictions involving illegal drugs.
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