Newark man gets 45-year sentence for robberies that led to cab driver’s death

NEWARK — A 22-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 45 years in state prison in connection with three armed robberies in 2012 during which a taxicab driver and father of five was fatally shot.

Prosecutor's say that on July 7, 2012, Alchane Mayes and Jeshon Johnson, now 23, robbed two people before calling Family Cab service in Newark to request taxi service. As they exited the cab, driven by 49-year-old Rochenel Guerrier of Irvington, authorities say the two men opened fire. The driver was shot twice from two different guns, prosecutor's say. Guerrier was transported to University Hospital where he later died.

Johnson and Mayes were arrested in the connection with the incident. Johnson later agreed to plead guilty to robbery and aggravated manslaughter in exchange for a 28-year sentence in NJ state prison.

Mayes, who stood trial, was convicted by a jury of the robberies. He was found not guilty on the murder and felony charges and was sentenced Tuesday to 45 years in state prison. Under the No Early Release Act, however, he will be required to serve 34 years of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.

According to the prosecutor, the state originally recommended a 70-year sentence, while the defense recommended 10 years.

“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," Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards said in a statement. "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.”

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.