CHICAGO – Police recently issued several warnings about gunmen using social media marketplace ads to entrap victims. Just a few days ago, prosecutors charged a 16-year-old boy with robbing two men he lured to a location through an online advertisement.
Yesterday, a man pleaded guilty to committing a market-related robbery. He was given a four-year prison sentence, but will be out in less than a year.
George Miller’s victim wanted to buy a PS5 on Facebook when he saw one offered in his price range last January. He contacted the seller and made an appointment at the victim’s home in the 8600 block of South Essex.
Miller, 26, reportedly arrived with a PS5 box around 7 p.m., and the victim met him in the building’s vestibule to finalize the sale. The transaction fell through after he handed Miller the agreed upon $400 in cash.
“You know what time it is,” Miller allegedly told the man as he showed a firearm.
Prosecutors alleged Miller told the 52-year-old victim that he had been “doing this to women all week.” He took the money, left the PS5 box and fled in a car waiting outside. Prosecutors said the PlayStation box contained books.
Miller’s face was fully visible during the robbery, and the victim also recalled seeing a tattoo on Miller’s left hand, the petition said. Investigators tracked down Miller through his Facebook account.
During Thursday’s hearing, Miller pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery before Judge Arthur Willis. Prosecutors dropped two more serious Class X armed robbery charges.
State law reduces Miller’s sentence to two years for good behavior. Those 730 days will be further reduced by 409 days of credit Miller earned while in custody while the case was pending.
Original reporting you won’t see anywhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
