Two of six men charged in Craigslist robberies to stand trial
Two of six suspects charged by Uniontown police for allegedly participating in a string of armed robberies in the city in early August will stand trial.
All charges were dismissed against a third suspect in the robberies, in which the alleged victims attempted to make purchases through the classified advertisement website, Craigslist, but were then robbed, police said. However, investigating officer Jamie L. Holland said he will refile the charges against that suspect at a later date.
Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros held all charges against Roy Johnson Jr., 19, and Warare Wilkerson, 18, both of Uniontown, for trial in Fayette County Court following a preliminary hearing Tuesday, but dismissed the charges filed against Ishmael DeShields, 18, also of Uniontown.
All three men were charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and other related charges.
Holland said police also filed similar charges against Joshua M. Fitzgerald, 18, of Connellsville; Xavier Alexander Thomas, 20, of Uniontown; and Kyle Bass, 18, of Uniontown.
Fitzgerald and Thomas are still awaiting preliminary hearings and Bass remains on the lam.
According to Holland, the robberies began when the first alleged victim, Mitch Chopyak, no address available, was contacted by one of the suspects through Craigslist. The suspect arranged the sale of an iPad for $250.
When Chopyak arrived on Hickle Street to purchase the iPad on Aug. 1, he was approached by three men, one armed with a handgun. He was robbed of the cash and two cellphones.
The second robbery occurred a week later, Holland said, when Fiaz Ahmed responded to an ad on Craigslist posted by the suspects and purportedly selling a laptop computer.
When Ahmed arrived at the designated meeting placefor the transaction on Dunlap Street on Aug. 8, he was met by two men, both armed with handguns, Holland said.
When they discovered that Ahmed had not brought cash for the transaction, they forced him to go to an automated teller machine and withdraw $500, and then took the cash and cellphone before fleeing, Holland said.
The final robbery occurred the following day when Jonathan Hartin, no address available, responded to the same ad as Ahmed had, and arrived on Dunlap Street, where he was met by two men wearing masks and brandishing guns, Holland said.
Hartin was able to flee, but Holland said the suspects fired two shots at him as he drove away.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Bass is asked to call police at 724-430-2929.