David Crocker, Armed Robbery, District of Columbia 2016

David Crocker, 17, and Sadiq Blaine, 16, both of Washington, D.C., are behind bars for eight years after a string of violent armed robberies orchestrated through the online marketplace OfferUp. Using fake ads for iPhones and a Mercedes SUV, the teens lured victims into traps across Southeast Washington in February and March of 2016, threatening them with imitation firearms, knives, and brute force to steal cash and personal items. U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced the sentences today, marking the end of a case that exposed the dark underbelly of peer-to-peer sales platforms.

The pair, charged as adults due to the severity of their crimes, pled guilty in July 2016 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Crocker admitted to three counts of armed robbery committed on Feb. 28 and March 18, 2016. Blaine pled guilty to two counts tied to robberies on Feb. 25 and March 17, 2016. On October 21, 2016, the Honorable Juliet McKenna handed down the eight-year prison terms. Upon release, both will face five years of supervised release, a stipulation underscoring the court’s concern over their predatory pattern.

The first known attack occurred Feb. 25, 2016, at 9:30 p.m. outside the Capitol View Library on Central Avenue SE. Blaine and Crocker responded to a buyer seeking three iPhone 6s units. Once the victims arrived, the duo jumped into the back seat of the vehicle. Blaine produced an imitation firearm and barked, “Give me the money.” The pair collected $120 from one victim and at least $500 from the other. When the victims claimed they had no more cash, the teens forced the driver at gunpoint to an ATM. Only when a Metropolitan Police cruiser approached did the victims stall—stopping mid-intersection on Central Avenue SE and 52nd Street SE—allowing them to escape as Blaine and Crocker fled on foot.

Just three days later, Crocker struck again. On Feb. 28, 2016, at 4:45 p.m., a man arrived at the 5100 block of Astor Place SE expecting to buy three iPhone 6Ss. Crocker emerged from 5120 Astor Place SE, told the buyer someone else was coming, then vanished back inside. Minutes later, he returned and directed the man to drive into a secluded driveway. That’s when a second suspect appeared, pressed a knife to the victim’s neck, and climbed into the back seat. Crocker entered the front passenger side, produced a knife from a backpack, and demanded money. The victim surrendered $500 and his cell phone before the assailants vanished into the neighborhood.

On March 17, 2016, at 2 p.m., Blaine and Crocker repeated their scheme—this time over a fake Mercedes SUV listing. When the victim arrived at Astor Place SE, Blaine approached the driver’s window, pointed an imitation firearm, and demanded cash. The man handed over his wallet. Blaine took $1,000 and a photocopy of the victim’s Social Security card. When more money was demanded, Crocker hurled a brick through the passenger window. Glass shattered, striking the victim’s hand. Crocker then wrenched open the door, rifled through the glove box, and fled with Blaine.

Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department connected the incidents through digital forensics and surveillance footage tied to the OfferUp accounts used to place the ads. No physical injuries were reported beyond the hand trauma from broken glass, but prosecutors emphasized the psychological terror inflicted. With sentencing now complete, the DOJ sends a stark message: exploiting digital trust for violent crime carries steep consequences. The case remains a grim warning to buyers navigating unregulated online marketplaces in high-risk areas.

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