The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has apprehended four individuals—three adults and one juvenile—linked to a string of at least 11 robberies and six grand thefts targeting online sellers, predominantly on Facebook Marketplace.
These crimes unfolded between October 2025 and May 2026 in the Intracoastal district of Miami-Dade County, near Northwest 6th Avenue and NW 152nd Street, as reported by Telemundo 51.
The suspects were captured during an undercover operation where authorities posed as buyers of a phone using the same online platform.
The Deceptive Tactics: Posing as Buyers
According to the Sheriff's Office, the suspects targeted individuals selling cell phones and laptops, arranging meetings under the guise of purchasing the items, only to seize the property and flee.
This fraudulent scheme was executed more than a dozen times over a seven-month period.
In a related incident in Hialeah, one person had already kidnapped a couple during a Facebook Marketplace transaction, highlighting the potential dangers of meeting strangers for online sales.
Profiles of the Arrested and Charges They Face
Terrell Barry, age 20, faces the most serious charges, including armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. In April, Barry allegedly stole a phone from a seller contacted via Facebook Marketplace, lifted his shirt to reveal a gun tucked in his waistband, and "threatened to kill" if pursued, as stated in the arrest report.
Adrion Hall, age 22, is charged with third-degree grand theft after allegedly taking an iPhone 16 valued at $800 in January. Detectives discovered that Hall's "phone number" was used to create Facebook profiles associated with the thefts. Hall denied involvement, claiming that other suspects used his phone to manage the accounts.
Nikell Etienne, age 23, is charged with robbery by sudden snatching, burglary with assault or battery, and attempted theft related to an incident in October 2025. During negotiations over payment for items, the suspects "became enraged... and proceeded to demand the property," according to the arrest report.
One victim managed to photograph Etienne and send the picture to his wife before the phone was snatched away. Etienne had previously been arrested by Hialeah police in December 2025 in an unrelated case.
The fourth individual, a 17-year-old, is accused of posing as a buyer in February and forcibly "snatching" a phone from a victim's hand before fleeing on foot.
A Growing Criminal Trend in Florida
Theft from online sales platforms is a rising trend in Florida. In Palm Beach County, two teenagers were arrested in April for at least four similar robberies involving sellers contacted through the same method.
In Miami-Dade, five individuals were detained in Hialeah for cell phone thefts in a previous operation, and more recently, a man in Miami was charged with multiple armed robberies under similar circumstances.
Nationally, over 62% of Facebook Marketplace users report encountering fraudulent activity, with financial scams on the platform surging by 340% in the second quarter of 2025.
Following these arrests, the Sheriff's Office urged the public to use safe exchange zones at police facilities, which are monitored by video 24/7, rather than arranging meet-ups at homes or isolated locations.
Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
Understanding Online Marketplace Security
What prompted the arrests of the suspects in Miami-Dade?
The suspects were arrested following an undercover operation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, where authorities simulated the purchase of a phone on Facebook Marketplace to catch the perpetrators in the act.
What charges are the suspects facing?
The suspects face various charges, including armed robbery, grand theft, robbery by sudden snatching, and burglary with assault or battery, depending on their level of involvement in the crimes.