Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested two suspects for robbery and conspiracy after an online purchase went bad. The series of events began on Saturday, January 6, 2018 shortly after 11:00 PM when the victim, a 16-year-old boy, tried to sell an imitation Louis Vuitton handbag using an online application called “Let Go.” He posted if for sale for $300 and after some online negotiating, the purchaser and seller agreed on a price of $250. The value of the imitation handbag was only about $20. The suspect purchaser, who went by the screen name of “Jake Jennings” agreed to meet the victim at his home in Penngrove.
The suspect arrived at the victim’s home and met with the victim. As the suspect inspected the handbag, he pulled it away from the victim. As the victim attempted to get the bag back, the suspect pulled out a revolver, cocked the hammer back and thrusted the barrel into the victim’s stomach. The victim told the suspect to take the bag and the suspect fled with the bag in a white sedan. The victim told deputies the suspect was wearing distinctive Air Jordan shoes and gave a good description.
On January 7, 2018 the investigating deputy was conducting follow up using the Let Go application and found a person by the screen name of Jake Jennings. The deputies began an online conversation with “Jake Jennings” who said he was interested in the purchase of some Air Jordan shoes.
Deputies arranged a fictional purchase agreement of Air Jordan shoes and agreed upon a meeting place on a commercial court in Windsor and the suspects pulled up shortly before midnight on 1/8/18. The deputies made a traffic stop on their vehicle, a blue Chevrolet Aveo. They contacted the suspects, 19-year-old Austin McClure from Santa Rosa and a 16-year-old Santa Rosa boy whose identity is withheld due to age.
During the traffic stop, deputies noticed McClure was wearing the same Air Jordan shoes the victim had described and the 16-year-old suspect was in possession of the stolen knock-off Louis Vuitton handbag. During a search of the car, deputies located a black pellet gun with a working hammer that had the appearance of a real handgun.
Both McClure and the 16-year-old were ultimately arrested for robbery and conspiracy charges. McClure was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and the 16-year-old was booked into Juvenile Hall. The deputies learned that these suspects may have been involved in several other robberies over the last two weeks using online application purchases. If you have been a victim of a robbery like this, please contact Sheriff’s Investigations at 707-565-2185.
Prepared by: Sgt. Spencer Crum
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
CR 180106028
