Atlanta police arrest 7 suspects in Craigslist robberies
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Atlanta police Tuesday announced the arrests and indictments of seven suspects in a series of robberies involving Craigslist ads.
Police said the suspects posted bogus ads on the website offering vehicles for sale at very low prices. When the victims showed up to make a purchase, they were robbed, according to police. The suspects never possessed the vehicles. All the robberies occurred in an area of southwest Atlanta around Hadlock Street and Stanton Road, police said at a news conference.
More than $20,000 in cash and various items was taken from a total of 15 victims, police said. Many of the victims brought cash to pay for the vehicles. The seven suspects face charges including armed robbery, participation in criminal street gang activity and possession of firearm during the attempted commission of a felony.
Arrested and charged were: Darious Harris; JuJuane Harris; Tayza Harris; Aqueelah Jannah; Jacorey Johnson; Tereka Mills; and Cameron T. Neeley.
Police said they found a gang connection to the suspects. They are affiliated wit the “Billy Bad Ass Gang” and the “9 Trey Gang.”
Atlanta police said Tuesday they have made multiple arrests in connection with recent Craigslist robberies.
Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Espy said the department’s investigation took place over several months.
- On June 24, a man and a woman responded to a Craigslist ad to buy a 2007 Dodge Caliber truck at an address on Hadlock Street. They were met by one man who went to get another, who supposedly would make the deal. The two men returned wearing ski masks and carrying guns, which they pointed in the victims' faces. The suspects took $5,000 cash, bank cards and a driver's license as well as the victims' car and house keys.
- On July 3, three men said they went to Hadlock Street to buy a BMW. They said they were robbed by three other men of their cellphones and the $4,000 they brought to buy the car. The suspects had two handguns, the victims said.
- On July 8 on Hadlock Street, two men took a cab from Norcross to look at a 2011 Honda Accord advertised for $5,500 on Craigslist. They were met by a man they spoke with and decided to leave the money for the car in the cab. Then two others with red scarves ran up to them pointing guns at them. They were robbed of their mobile phones and some cash. The cab driver drove off and called police. The money for the car was retrieved.
- On July 16, undercover police arrested three people while investigating a Craigslist ad for a car for sale at a Hadlock Street location. The arrests were made prior to any deal being made. The suspects who were stopped by police for a traffic stop were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a minor.
- Other incidents occurred on Sept. 1 and 22 and Oct. 5 around Stanton Road.
- On Dec. 23, in the areas of Hadlock and Stanton, two men from Columbus, Ga., went to buy a Chevrolet Camaro for $5,000. Police saw them and told them the area had been hit by robberies related to Craigslist ads. They left. Police then stopped and arrested a man and a woman in the area on charges including carrying a concealed weapon.
