NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Nashville man who went on a robbery and carjacking spree in 2021 has been sentenced to a quarter century in prison for his crimes, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday.
Jesse Jose Rucker, 35, will spend 25 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release for charges related to a series of carjackings and robberies he committed in Middle Tennessee in November of 2021 while he was already on probation for a state court felony offense, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The DOJ said Rucker previously pleaded guilty to four counts of commercial robbery, four carjacking counts, three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“This prosecution again demonstrates our unwavering commitment to hold violent offenders accountable for the havoc they wreak in our community,” McGuire said. “This sentence ensures that Jesse Rucker will not have the chance hurt any other citizen for over two decades. Those who would do similar violence should know that we will do what it takes to ensure that they face similar punishment.”
“This investigation focused on armed robberies, multiple carjackings, and terrifying acts of violence within the communities that we serve,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “The ATF and our valued law enforcement partners will continue to collaborate and work collectively to take violent criminals off our streets in an effort to maintain public safety.”
“Accountability is essential for violent criminals who prey on innocent victims,” said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “In this case, our partnership with federal law enforcement to hold Rucker accountable means that he will be 60 when he is released from prison. I deeply appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working closely with us to keep Nashville safe.”
Court documents state Rucker robbed a convenience store clerk on Eaton’s Creek Road on Nov. 10, 2021. He reportedly asked the clerk to turn on a gas pump for him and, when she said she was unable to do so, told her, “My homie was just shot, and I have to do what I have to do” and showed her a gun. He left the store, pumped gas, and then returned to the store, demanding money from the register. He fled after receiving approximately $180 from the clerk.
The next morning, Rucker carjacked a victim at the Woodspring Suites on Metroplex Drive. He parked next to the victim, pointed a gun at them and allegedly said, “I want your car.” A few hours later, Rucker carjacked two more victims outside their home, taking their car to a pharmacy on Harding Pike that he also robbed. Court documents state Rucker approached the counter and asked the victim for two boxes of syringes while waving a black and silver pistol.
Less than an hour later, Rucker pulled up in the second stolen car and carjacked another victim eating their lunch at an Antioch Pike business, according to officials. He then used that stolen car to drive to a Metro PCS on Nolensville Pike, where he proceeded to rob the store of iPhones and phone cases.
Victims and witnesses inside the Metro PCS told News 2 in 2021 Rucker announced his intentions and waved his gun, cocking it and demanding the phones from the employees. He also threw money on the ground, saying he would pay for the phones he was robbing.
Within minutes of robbing the Metro PCS, authorities said Rucker entered Dubai Jewelry with the same gun, smashing the glass of a jewelry counter and grabbing four 24 carat gold rings valued at $1,450. He then fled, crashing the third stolen car into another vehicle and attempting to carjack that car. The car he crashed into was disabled by the crash, however, so Rucker fled on foot, firing at least one shot.
Rucker then carjacked yet another car at gunpoint on Murfreesboro Pike near Nashboro Village. Metro police were able to locate the vehicle and initiated a pursuit on I-40 East into Wilson County, reaching speeds of up to 126 miles per hour, according to the DOJ. Rucker then crashed the vehicle into a Wilson County Sheriff’s Office car and fled on foot in Wilson County. Wilson County deputies were able to catch arrest him after a brief chase
