A Rogers Park man and a juvenile accomplice are in custody after they robbed an undercover cop who was investigating a series of muggings that involved victims who were lured into traps via the Letgo app, prosecutors said.
At least two victims since October had filed police reports after they were robbed when they tried to purchase PlayStation 4 consoles from offenders they met through the resale application. Both of those robberies took place in Rogers Park.
When undercover officers saw the same PS4 being offered on Letgo recently, they arranged to buy it for $190 cash.
An undercover cop, supported by covert units, went to the 1300 block of West Albion in Rogers Park and met with a juvenile who gave him a bag containing the gaming device around 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 12. The boy ripped $190 in “marked” money from the cop’s hand, regained control of the PS4, and ran away.
Covert officers then saw the juvenile meet with 19-year-old Ellijah Cherry nearby. Both got onto Cherry’s bike to get away, according to prosecutors. The undercover cops moved in and arrested the two. The marked money, backpack, and PS4 were recovered from the juvenile, prosecutors said during Cherry’s bond hearing.
Cherry is charged with robbery and possessing a controlled substance. Judge Mary Marubio set bond at $1,000 and ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he gets released.
The boy is also charged in connection with the case, but no further details are available about him because he is a juvenile.