PEORIA — The “ringleader” of a Facebook Marketplace robbery gone wrong was sentenced to nearly three decades in prison.
Sontarrius Williams, 29, was sentenced to 28 years for what prosecutors said was his role in a robbery that left one of the robbers dead two years ago.
Williams and a group of other men orchestrated an attempted robbery in January 2024 in which they lured a man to Peoria under the guise of selling him a vehicle via Facebook Marketplace.
Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Gast said that Williams was the ringleader who planned the robbery and orchestrated the fake Facebook Marketplace listing.
Peoria County Judge Sean Donahue called the crime “absolutely horrendous.” He said the plan was “calculated” and involved multiple armed individuals who lured victims across state lines.
On Jan. 15, 2024, Williams directed the individuals to an alley, where several people attempted to rob them at gunpoint, prosecutors said. One of the purchasers exchanged gunfire with the suspects, and one of the robbers, 18-year-old Marcus Whitehead of Bloomington, was killed in the ensuing gunfire.
The purchaser was not charged, as the shooting was determined to be self-defense.
Williams and three others, Jalyn Branscumb, 20, Tanarius Kingcade, 29, Keshawn Williams, 20, and Johnathan Williams, 21, were arrested in connection with the robbery and have pleaded guilty. Investigators used Flock camera images and surveillance footage to identify the suspects in this case.
Branscumb was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the case.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: ‘Absolutely horrendous’ case in Peoria leads to prison for ringleader
Reporting by JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
