A 22-year-old Seattle man faces a seven-count federal indictment for multiple crimes on Nov. 7, 2022, that stretched from Kent to Bellevue and eventually ended in Renton.
Maar Teng Rambang faced the charges Thursday, Jan. 12 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. He is charged with three counts of carjacking, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of attempted robbery.
“These alleged crimes stretched from Kent, to Bellevue, to Redmond, to Seattle and ultimately back to Renton,” U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said. “Along the way Mr. Rambang’s conduct put countless people at risk – not just with the firearm he illegally possessed and used – but with the vehicles he drove at high speed in populated areas. It’s important that we use our federal tools to deter this type of conduct.”
According to records filed in King County Superior Court and in federal court, the alleged crime spree began on Nov. 7, 2022, outside the U.S. Postal Service parking lot, 10612 SE 240th St., in Kent. Rambang allegedly confronted a woman, brandishing a gun and demanding her car.
Next, Rambang drove the stolen car to the Bellevue Square Mall garage and reportedly fired two shots as he threatened another woman and demanded her vehicle. Next, he drove that stolen BMW to Redmond and allegedly attempted to rob Amazon employees working at a delivery locker at a Whole Foods Market.
Rambang then allegedly drove the BMW to the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle where he shot a man in the leg and stole his Jeep SUV. Officers tracked the Jeep to Kent and attempted to stop and arrest Rambang but he reportedly fled at speeds of 90 to 100 mph in areas of heavy traffic.
Rambang drove in center turn lanes, through gas station parking lots and ran red lights. Ultimately, a Jeep service provider was able to remotely slow the vehicle to 30 mph so that law enforcement was able to block the car and arrest Rambang, according to the news release.
Rambang was originally charged in King County Superior Court. He was indicted by a grand jury on Dec. 14, 2022. He came into federal custody Jan. 11. He remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac pending further hearings.
Carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Attempted robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
The case was investigated by the Kent, Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle Police Departments with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, firearms, Tobacco & Explosives (ATF).
