A federal judge has officially closed the book on a violent Mother’s Day 2025 carjacking that began at a Lehigh Acres storefront and ended in a high-speed wreck on the interstate. Miranda Lee Pryor, a 39-year-old from Orange Park, was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell.
This sentencing follows Pryor’s October 29, 2025, guilty plea to charges of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of May 11, 2025, when a man waiting in his vehicle outside a local store was approached by Pryor and her co-defendant, 36-year-old Rebecca Lea Stacey of West Palm Beach. According to court records, Pryor brandished a firearm during the encounter as the pair forced the victim from his car and sped away from the scene.
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The stolen vehicle was spotted later that day on I-75, sparking a dangerous pursuit through Collier County. While Stacey sat behind the wheel, Pryor occupied the passenger seat. During the chase, Pryor tossed the firearm used in the initial robbery out of the window. Law enforcement officials eventually recovered the weapon from the side of the highway.
The high-speed flight ended when Stacey lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Both women were apprehended by law enforcement immediately following the accident. Stacey was previously sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for her role in the crimes.
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United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the final sentencing this week. The investigation into the carjacking and subsequent chase involved a massive joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Simon Eth and Kevin Huguelet handled the prosecution for the government.
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