Saint Louis Man Pleads Guilty To Using Online Marketplaces To Rob Victims Of IPhones

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri:

October 15, 2020

Clyde Jefferson, 28, of St. Louis, appeared before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber and pled guilty to five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Webber set the case for sentencing on January 14, 2021.

Jefferson admitted that he used online marketplaces including Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Letgo to arrange for victims to sell him their iPhones at locations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. When meeting the victims, Jefferson would offer them counterfeit currency in exchange for their iPhones. Jefferson brandished a firearm during several of the transactions, which occurred on August 3, September 21, and October 8, 2018, and on January 8 and 29, 2019.

The United States alleges that Jefferson shot one of his victims, a fact which Jefferson disputes and the Court will resolve at the sentencing hearing.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Richmond Heights Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Roy is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This press release was produced by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri. The views expressed here are the author’s own.