The Justice Department says a Utah man was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for an armed carjacking in a Sparks casino parking garage last year.

Prosecutors say 29-year-old Andrew Brigman of Layton, Utah, previously pleaded guilty to use of a firearm. Brigman has prior felony convictions for attempted theft, aggravated assault, and theft and assault by a prisoner, all in Utah. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du sentenced him to five years of supervised release.

Authorities say on July 6, 2017, Brigman and a child approached an elderly woman as she exited her car in a casino parking garage in Sparks. He pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the woman and demanded she hand over her car, phone, and credit cards. She gave him the key fob for her car. Brigman did not know how to operate the car with the key fob, so she had to show him how to start the car. He and the child left in the stolen vehicle. In an attempt to locate Brigman and the child, Sparks Police Department sent out media releases with composite sketches and images of the stolen vehicle. An AMBER Alert was also issued for the child.

On July 14, the Sparks Police Department received a tip that identified Brigman as the possible suspect of the armed carjacking. A few days later, the stolen car was stopped for a traffic violation in Alamosa County, Colorado. Brigman, a woman, and her four children were in the car. The child who accompanied Brigman during the armed carjacking was found safe in the car. During a search of the vehicle, authorities say a .38 semiautomatic pistol was found in the glove box.

The case was investigated by the Sparks Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

ORIGINAL STORY: 

Police say a car in connection with a recent carjacking in Sparks was found in Colorado on Sunday. Two people were arrested, and the child who was the focus of a recent AMBER Alert was found safe.

Police say the car was found in Alamosa, Colorado by highway patrol troopers. They say two people were inside the car – 33-year-old Bernadette Jaramillo of Colorado and 28-year-old Andrew Brigman of Utah.

The Colorado State Patrol arrested Brigman on unrelated charges of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Displaying Stolen/Fictitious Plates, Criminal Impersonation, and Theft.

The Colorado State Patrol also arrested Jaramillo on unrelated charges of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft and Speeding.

On Monday, Sparks detectives went to Colorado, and found the young child.

Sparks Police Detectives are continuing the investigation and are working with the Colorado State Patrol.