South Side Man Sentenced to Probation for Robbing Victims Through Facebook Marketplace Ad
A man from the South Side has been sentenced to probation after being accused of working with accomplices to lure three individuals into a robbery through an advertisement on Facebook Marketplace.
According to court records and a police report, the incident took place on June 28 last year when the man arranged to purchase a Yamaha motorcycle from a Facebook account under the name “Larry West.” The transaction was supposed to take place in the 6700 block of South Indiana Avenue. The Chicago Police Department had issued warnings about similar robberies occurring in Park Manor and the same block.
When the buyer and his two companions arrived at the designated address, they were met by a young boy claiming to be “Larry West’s” son. The boy led them to the backyard of a house, where they were confronted by three men, including 19-year-old Calvin Savage. Savage allegedly brandished a handgun and demanded their belongings, taking a wallet containing $2,500 in cash from one of the victims.
The group attempted to take money from another victim, but he had left his wallet in his vehicle. The boy who led them into the yard then reportedly used a knife to poke the third victim and took around $230 from his pockets.
Police were able to track one of the stolen cell phones to Savage’s home, where it was located before being turned off. Following a search warrant, officers entered the residence about five hours after the robbery and found Savage inside.
Despite initially claiming he was at a gym during the time of the incident, two victims identified Savage as one of the robbers. When questioned about wearing a mask during the robbery, Savage mentioned that his mother had informed him about it.
After pleading guilty to a single count of robbery, Savage was sentenced to 30 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to provide a DNA sample for a law enforcement database by Judge Timothy Joyce. He must also adhere to standard probation conditions.
