BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Four Palm Beach County residents have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on charges that they illegally sold Apple products as part of an online scam. The United States Department of Justice provided BocaNewsNow.com with this statement.
“A South Florida federal grand jury has charged four men in their early 20s with targeting and robbing people who sold electronic items on a popular online marketplace and using guns during some of the robberies.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges Palm Beach residents Jordan Denzel Lewis, 23, Tyrell Brion Bouie, 21, Anthony Christopher Diggs Jr., 20, and Broward resident Johntaevious Henry Johnson, 23, with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during a crime of violence, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. It also charges Lewis, a prior convicted felon, with illegal possession of a firearm.
It is alleged that the defendants targeted victims on a national online marketplace that allows users to list items for sale on its website and mobile application. Once users post items for sale, other users across the United States can view, bid on, and purchase items. According to the charges, from about June to October 2022, Lewis, Bouie, Diggs, and Johnson conspired to rob, and robbed, people who posted Apple products for sale on the online marketplace. The indictment also alleges that they used firearms in some of the robberies.
Johnson and Diggs have made their initial appearances in federal magistrate court in Fort Lauderdale. Initial appearances for Lewis and Bouie will be set later.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Plantation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deric Zacca and Ajay Alexander are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Delgado is handling asset forfeiture. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
