A Coral Springs man was found guilty in federal court this week of carjacking an Orlando car salesman with a handsaw during a test drive in 2021.
Whayname Ferdilus, 21, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday, January 25 of carjacking and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Ferdilus was indicted for the crime in April 2021.
Ferdilus visited the Massey Cadillac located at 8819 S. Orange Blossom Trail on February 24, 2021. During his visit, Ferdilus requested to test-drive a 2021 Cadillac CT4.
Because he did not have a driver’s license, an employee of the dealership agreed to drive the vehicle while Ferdilus sat in the passenger seat.
During the test drive, Ferdilus began rummaging through his backpack before pulling out a 12-inch, serrated handsaw. Ferdilus threatened the driver with the handsaw and demanded that he hand over control of the vehicle.
The employee fled from the vehicle with the remote key fob in his pocket before he called police.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies used the On-Star in the vehicle to locate it a short time later at a nearby 7-Eleven. Ferdilus was arrested inside the store with the same backpack that he had during the test drive. Inside the backpack, the handsaw that was used in the crime was located.
At trial, Ferdilus testified and admitted to stealing the car, but denied any intention of causing harm to the victim.
Ferdilus is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2023, by U.S. Middle District Judge Gregory A. Presnell.