HARTFORD, CT – A trio of Hartford residents are facing federal charges after a year-long investigation revealed they allegedly preyed on individuals selling goods through online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. The group is accused of orchestrating a series of brazen gunpoint robberies, leaving victims shaken and stripped of their merchandise.
John Villegas, 25, also known as “Kirby,” Jaylen Lasalle, 19, and Valerie Meneses, 23, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Hartford last week, according to U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Boston Field Division. The scheme involved arranging meetings with sellers under the guise of a legitimate purchase, then brandishing a firearm and stealing items ranging from cell phones to high-end sneakers and accessories.
The investigation, a joint effort by the ATF, Hartford Police Department, and Middletown Police Departments, traced the robberies back to August 2022. Villegas and Meneses allegedly committed an armed robbery in Middletown on August 20, 2022. Shortly after, Villegas and Lasalle are accused of carrying out five more armed robberies in Hartford throughout late August and early September 2022. The indictment details six counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) against Villegas, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years per count. Lasalle faces five similar counts.
The charges don’t stop there. Villegas is also facing three counts, and Lasalle two counts, of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These charges carry a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years. Meneses is accused of aiding and abetting both the Hobbs Act robbery and the firearm violations. All defendants pleaded not guilty at their initial court appearances.
Villegas has been detained since his arrest on December 14, 2022. Lasalle, arrested February 3, 2023, was released on a $50,000 bond, while Meneses, arrested October 5, 2023, is out on a $25,000 bond. U.S. Attorney Avery was quick to emphasize that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and A. Reed Durham are prosecuting the case.
In light of these incidents, U.S. Attorney Avery urged individuals using online marketplaces to exercise extreme caution. “If you’re meeting a stranger to complete a sale, choose a visible, well-lit, and monitored location,” she stated. “Contact your local police department to see if they offer a designated safe meeting spot, or search online for nearby options.” The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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