Baltimore, Maryland — A 19-year-old man admitted in federal court to orchestrating two armed carjackings that terrorized would-be buyers using the popular resale app OfferUp. Michael Wedington, Jr., of Baltimore, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2020, to federal kidnapping charges tied to violent robberies on June 8 and June 10, 2019—crimes that began as routine online transactions and ended with victims held at gunpoint and forced to hand over cash, IDs, and vehicles.
According to court documents, Wedington lured victims by posing as a seller of tools on OfferUp, arranging meetups near West Lexington Street. On June 8, one victim arrived to buy equipment, only to be directed to a back alley where Wedington and two others approached his van. What appeared to be a routine handoff turned violent when a suspect produced a handgun, forced the man into the rear of his own van, and stole his wallet, phone, and driver’s license. As the suspects drove off with the victim still inside, one placed a gun in his mouth and demanded the PIN to his debit card.
Using the stolen PIN, the suspects withdrew cash from an ATM at a gas station in Northwest Baltimore. The victim managed to escape in the 7000 block of Park Heights Avenue and immediately called the Baltimore Police Department. The van was recovered five days later on Tivoly Avenue. Evidence tied directly to Wedington included his fingerprint on the stolen vehicle and digital traces of the OfferUp account under the name ‘Brian’ used to set up the trap.
Two days later, on June 10, Wedington struck again. Another man arrived at the same West Lexington location, responding to another fake tool sale. He was directed to a back alley behind West Fayette Street, where Wedington and an accomplice—both armed with handguns—ambushed him. They stole over $1,000 in cash, two cell phones, and his Toyota Sienna. Investigators later matched Wedington’s fingerprint from the scene and linked him directly to the vehicle.
A federal search warrant executed on November 1, 2019, at Wedington’s residence—just blocks from both crime scenes—turned up a trove of evidence: a Toyota key, a loaded firearm, 1,000 rounds of ammunition, replica guns, and multiple cell phones. Digital forensics confirmed Wedington’s use of OfferUp to bait victims. He was identified in a photo array and later charged federally due to the crossing of state lines in the use of communication technology.
Wedington now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2020. While federal sentences often fall below the maximum, prosecutors emphasized the brutality and premeditation behind the crimes. United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI and Baltimore Police Department for their swift investigation, crediting interagency cooperation for bringing Wedington to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and Daniel Loveland are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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