Stephanie Miranda Neace, a 32-year-old resident of Blairsville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release for her involvement in the kidnapping and robbery of an elderly victim. This announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Her co-defendant, Jordan Nathaniel Hedden, received a 121-month sentence in April for his part in the crime.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joined U.S. Attorney Ferguson in announcing the sentencing.
Evidence presented at Neace’s trial revealed that on November 30, 2023, a 71-year-old woman driving from Georgia to North Carolina offered Neace and Hedden a ride due to cold weather conditions. After entering North Carolina, Hedden instructed the victim to drive to his car’s location. Upon arrival and finding no vehicle there, Hedden forced the victim into the back seat and took control of her car.
Trial evidence showed that Hedden became paranoid about being tracked and searched both the car and victim for tracking devices after taking her phone and disabling it. The victim had only $2 on her person but suggested going to an ATM when Hedden demanded money.
The drive continued into Tennessee with Hedden extracting a promise from the victim not to identify them to police. At an ATM near a gas station, she managed to separate herself from Neace and Hedden by running into the gas station while screaming for help. Without the key fob needed to start her car, Hedden fled on foot with Neace before being apprehended days later.
Neace remains in federal custody awaiting placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson expressed gratitude towards the FBI for their investigation efforts on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Gast and Alexis Solheim prosecuted this case out of Asheville.
