Date: 01-08-2025

Case Style:

United States of America v. John Villegas a/k/a “Kirby”

Case Number:

Judge: Sarala V. Nagala

Court: The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Hartford County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The States United Attorney’s Office in Hartford

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Hartford, Connecticut criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Robbing Victims Who Advertised Goods on Internet Marketplaces
Hartford Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Victims Who Advertised Goods on Internet Marketplaces

JOHN VILLEGAS, also known as “Kirby,” 26, of Hartford was charged for committing a series of gunpoint robberies targeting individual sellers of luxury goods over online marketplaces.

ATF, the Hartford Police Department, and the Middletown Police Department investigated a series of gunpoint robberies of individuals who advertised items for sale on internet marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. At an arranged meeting place to sell their items, which included cell phones and luxury sneakers and accessories, the purported purchaser would brandish a firearm, force the victim to hand over the luxury goods, and flee. The investigation revealed that Villegas and Jalen Lasalle committed five armed robberies in Hartford in late August and early September 2022. Villegas, with his sister Valerie Meneses, also committed an armed robbery in August 2022 in Middletown.

Villegas has been detained since December 14, 2022. On September 12, 2024, he pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), and two counts of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Lasalle and Meneses, both of Hartford, pleaded guilty to related charges. On October 16, 2024, Meneses was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment. Lasalle awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Hartford Police Department, and the Middletown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and A. Reed Durham.

U.S. Attorney Avery encouraged those who sell and purchase items online, and need to meet an individual in person to complete the sale, to use a visible, monitored location. Contact your local police department to see if it offers a monitored meeting location, or search online for a nearby monitored location.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 156 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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