Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Alchane Mayes, 22, has been sentenced to 45 years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, Judge of the Superior Court, for three armed robberies that occurred in Newark during which taxicab driver Rochenel Guerrier, 49, of Irvington was fatally shot.
Authorities said on July 7, 2012, Mayes and Jeshon Johnson, now 23, robbed two people.
They then called a cab, driven by Guerrier, and opened fire on the drive as they got out of the vehicle. Guerrier, who worked for Family Cab service in Newark, was shot twice from two different guns.
The father of five died several hours later at University Hospital.
Johnson pled guilty to the robbery and aggravated manslaughter in exchange for a 28 year sentence.
Mayes went to trial. The jury convicted him of the three robberies but found him not guilty of murder and felony murder authorities said.
Today, Judge Ravin sentenced Mayes to 45 years.
The state had recommended 70 years. The defense recommended 10 years.
Under the No Early Release Act, Mayes must serve 34 years before he is eligible for parole.
He has been in jail since his arrest in July of 2012.
Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Margarita Rivera, said, “While we are disappointed that Mayes was not convicted of the murder, because we believe the evidence was overwhelming, today’s result ensures that a violent and dangerous offender will be off the streets of Newark for a very long time.
He robbed three different people at gunpoint during a crime spree with his friend and the sentence imposed sends a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated.”