Three Hartford residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a series of gunpoint robberies last summer that targeted online marketplace sellers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced Friday that John Villegas, 25, also known as “Kirby,” Jaylen Lasalle, 19, and Valerie Meneses, 23, were each charged in connection with an indictment in Hartford federal court.
According to federal officials, the ATF as well as the Hartford and Middletown Police Departments investigated a series of armed robberies in August and September 2022 targeting individuals who listed luxury items for sale using sites like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. In each of the robberies, the suspect or suspects would arrange a meetup to buy the items listed for sale where they would force the seller at gunpoint to hand over whatever goods were being sold, which included things like cell phones, “luxury sneakers” and other items, according to federal officials.
Federal investigators believe Villegas and Meneses committed an armed robbery on Aug. 20, 2022, in Middletown. They also believe Villegas and Lasalle committed five subsequent armed robberies in Hartford in August and September 2022.
The indictment, which was returned last month, charges Villegas with six counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) — an offense that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison on each count — and three counts of carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence — which carries a mandatory consecutive term of at least seven years in prison.
The indictment charges Lasalle with five counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and two counts of carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Meneses was arrested last Thursday and is free on a $25,000 bond. She faces one count of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery and one count of aiding and abetting the carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Villegas and Lasalle appeared Thursday in federal court in Hartford, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to federal officials.
Villegas has been detained since his arrest on Dec. 14, 2022. Lasalle, who was arrested on Feb. 3, is free on $50,000 bond.
