Sonoma County Sheriff: Counterfeit handbag sale goes south, 2 arrested
SONOMA COUNTY // The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people after a sales arrangement for a counterfeit handbag via the “Let Go” app went south on January 6.
Shortly after 11 PM, the victim — identified only as a 16-year-old boy — listed an imitation Louis Vuitton handbag for sale in the app, pricing it at $300 when it was really only worth about $20. A buyer by the name of “Jake Jennings” took an interest in the bag and the two agreed on a final sale price of $250.
“Jake Jennings” then met the victim at his home in Penngrove to complete the sale. Once he had the bag in his hands, he pulled away from the victim and drew a gun when the victim tried to take it back. At that point, the victim relinquished the bag and “Jake Jennings” took off in a white sedan. When describing “Jennings” to responding deputies, the victim noted that he had been wearing distinctive Air Jordan shoes.
The following day, an investigating deputy found a person on Let Go with the screen name “Jake Jennings” and began a conversation with him, purporting to have a pair of Air Jordan shoes for sale.
Deputies then negotiated a “fictional purchase agreement,” and agreed to meet the suspect at a public location in Windsor. When he arrived shortly before midnight, deputies conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle — a blue Chevy Aveo.
The occupants — identified as 19-year-old Austin McClure of Santa Rosa and a 16-year-old juvenile — were in possession of the stolen handbag, and deputies noticed McClure wearing the same Air Jordan shoes described by the victim. A search of the car also revealed a black pellet gun with a working hammer, which bore a strong resemblance to an actual handgun.
McClure and the 16-year-old were both promptly arrested for robbery and conspiracy.
Deputies believe the pair may have been involved in several other robberies facilitated through online purchases over the last two weeks, and anyone who may have relevant information or believes they are a victim is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Investigations at 707-565-2185.
