A Merced man who responded to a craigslist ad about a vehicle for sale ended up being robbed by two men in Ceres who posed as sellers.
Police apprehended the men who they say stole the would-be buyer's wallet, cash and stereo equipment.
The Merced man met the sellers at Walnut and Central Avenue in Ceres at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28. He was greeted by two men who were armed and then robbed him. He was uninjured during the crime.
The victim reported the robbery and the car featured in the ad. Police spotted it on Thursday and made a felony traffic stop at Service and Mitchell roads. Driver Jesus Diaz, Jr. , 32, Ceres, was arrested.
Also stopped in the area was a second vehicle, occupied by Noah De La Rosa, 19, of Modesto, after he was identified as a suspect. De La Rosa was in possession of ecstasy pills.
Following the traffic stop, a search warrant was executed at Diaz's residence, located at the 2500 block of Lynell in Ceres, where the guns described by the victim were located (a Mac-10 assault weapon and a .380 handgun), along with the victim's stereo equipment, identification, and social security card. Over a pound of marijuana was also recovered from the house.
Diaz was arrested and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail for conspiracy, robbery, being a felon with a prior weapons offense in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, and various vehicle code violations.
De La Rosa was arrested and booked for robbery, conspiracy, possession of Ecstasy, and possession of an assault weapon.
This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Detective Perry at (209) 538-5730. Tips may be anonymously reported to the Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-60-CRIME or by texting tips to "274637" with TIP704 in the wording.
Police apprehended the men who they say stole the would-be buyer's wallet, cash and stereo equipment.
The Merced man met the sellers at Walnut and Central Avenue in Ceres at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28. He was greeted by two men who were armed and then robbed him. He was uninjured during the crime.
The victim reported the robbery and the car featured in the ad. Police spotted it on Thursday and made a felony traffic stop at Service and Mitchell roads. Driver Jesus Diaz, Jr. , 32, Ceres, was arrested.
Also stopped in the area was a second vehicle, occupied by Noah De La Rosa, 19, of Modesto, after he was identified as a suspect. De La Rosa was in possession of ecstasy pills.
Following the traffic stop, a search warrant was executed at Diaz's residence, located at the 2500 block of Lynell in Ceres, where the guns described by the victim were located (a Mac-10 assault weapon and a .380 handgun), along with the victim's stereo equipment, identification, and social security card. Over a pound of marijuana was also recovered from the house.
Diaz was arrested and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail for conspiracy, robbery, being a felon with a prior weapons offense in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, and various vehicle code violations.
De La Rosa was arrested and booked for robbery, conspiracy, possession of Ecstasy, and possession of an assault weapon.
This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Detective Perry at (209) 538-5730. Tips may be anonymously reported to the Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-60-CRIME or by texting tips to "274637" with TIP704 in the wording.
