John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ISAIAH HALLIDAY, 19, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to robbery and firearm offenses related to a scheme that victimized several individuals who sought to purchase items over mobile classifieds web apps.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September and November 2017, more than a dozen robberies occurred in Hartford during which individuals lured would-be customers with real or nonexistent items posted to mobile classifieds web apps, such as Offer Up, Letgo and Craigslist, through the use of a fake account. Upon arrival, the customers were robbed of money and cell phones. In all of the robberies, assailants brandished what victims described to be a firearm.
On Nov. 11, 2017, Hartford Police officers responded to a location on Blue Hills Avenue in response to a report of a male suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, the victim stated that he had traveled to Mansfield Street in Hartford to meet with an individual he contacted on Offer Up to purchase an iPhone. When he arrived, Halliday approached the front passenger door of his vehicle and pointed a black handgun at him. After the victim attempted to drive away, Halliday fired one round at him, striking him in the right forearm.
Halliday pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of 10 years to life.
In pleading guilty, Halliday admitted that he and several associates were involved in other similar armed robberies and attempted robberies between September and November 2017.
Halliday has been detained since his arrest on Nov. 17, 2017.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2019.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
