Man robbed at gunpoint during South Carolina Facebook sale of PlayStation 4, officials say
A South Carolina man was robbed at gunpoint after meeting a person on a Facebook Buy-Sell-Trade Group to sell a video gaming system, officials said Wednesday.
(Video above is the Wednesday morning headlines for 6/5/24.)
Jonathan Jabreal Robinson III, 30, of Seabrook, was found guilty by a Beaufort County General Sessions jury and sentenced to 22 years in prison for armed robbery, officials said.
The Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office in Bluffton, South Carolina, said the crime happened on March 19, 2022.
"Unfortunately, arranging to make a sale in a public place was not enough to keep Mr. Robinson from robbing this victim or repeatedly threatening his life," said Samantha Molina of the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office, who prosecuted the case. "Fortunately, the victim was not injured, and Mr. Robinson was not particularly adept at covering his tracks."
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Officials said Robinson met the victim after answering a Facebook advertisement for a limited-edition PlayStation 4. They were originally to meet at a fast-food restaurant, but at the last minute, Robinson changed the location to the Dale Community Center, in Beaufort County, which is near his home.
Officials described the crime this way:
"The victim arrived first, laying out his gaming system on his vehicle's tailgate. Robinson, who does not have a driver's license, arrived on foot. He began putting the PlayStation in his backpack, then pulled a handgun and pointed it at the man. Robinson demanded that he hand over his wallet, cellphone and Samsung Galaxy watch, as well.
"The victim was not injured during the robbery, but Robinson told him not to do anything 'or I'll shoot you.' He then told the man to get in his car and leave before 'he killed him.'"
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Officials said Robinson was identified by the victim using Robinson's own Facebook account.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office also used facial recognition software to match the picture to a Beaufort County Detention Center mugshot of Robinson. Video surveillance from the recreation center captured Robinson on camera and corroborated the victim's statement.
Investigators also discovered evidence that Robinson attempted to sell some of the stolen items on Facebook, posting pictures of them taken in his bedroom. Robinson also was photographed at an electronic kiosk, where he sold the phone he stole from the victim.
The clothes Robinson wore during the robbery were recovered from his bedroom, along with his identification and the gun he used in the robbery, which turned out to be a BB gun.
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Robinson was arrested in early April 2022 after a disturbance at a motel on Boundary Street, police said.
Officials said Robinson’s criminal history includes convictions for robbery, second-degree burglary, throwing bodily fluids and violation of probation.
Molina called nine witnesses during two days of testimony before the conviction.