In a significant crackdown on online marketplace-related crime, four Florida men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a series of robberies targeting individuals selling electronics on the popular app OfferUp.
The group, led by 24-year-old Jordan Denzel Lewis, used deception and violence to steal from unsuspecting victims, highlighting the potential dangers of online transactions.
Lewis, 24, has been sentenced to 28 years (336 months) in federal prison for orchestrating a series of robberies targeting people selling electronics on the online marketplace app OfferUp.
Read: West Virginia Senator Stripped Of Committee Leadership After Indecent Incident At “Gumby’s”
His accomplices, Tyrell Brion Bouie, Anthony Christopher Diggs Jr., and Johntaevious Henry Johnson, received sentences of 10.5 years (126 months), 9 years (108 months), and nearly 4 years (47 months), respectively.
The group’s scheme involved contacting victims through OfferUp, feigning interest in purchasing their electronics, and then robbing them at pre-arranged meeting places. The robberies, which took place between September and October 2022, sometimes involved the use of firearms and violence.
U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal handed down the sentences. Following their prison terms, each defendant will also be subject to five years of supervised release.
Read: Serial Killer On Death Row In California Confesses To 1986 Cold Case Murder
The case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office and the Plantation Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deric Zacca and Vanessa Bonhomme. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, and Plantation Police Chief W announced the successful prosecution. Howard Harrison.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.