Plainfield Woman Fraudulently Bought Cars On Facebook Marketplace: AG

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield woman is accused of buying three cars off Facebook Marketplace using fraudulent checks and fake identification, according to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Jocelyn Buster, 26, was charged with three counts of theft by deception, three counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and two counts of money laundering. Each felony charge can result in up to seven years in prison.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office alleges that in June 2023, the woman contacted three Facebook users expressing interest in cars each had posted for sale on the platform's online marketplace. She bought all three and later sold two of them to suburban car dealerships, officials said.

Buster pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her next court date is scheduled for May 20.

"My office is committed to identifying and holding individuals accountable whether they engage in theft or fraud in the real world or on social media," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement. "With online sale marketplaces growing in popularity, I urge Illinois consumers to take proactive steps to protect themselves from fraud."