Jalen Lasalle, a 20-year-old resident of Hartford, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a series of armed robberies targeting sellers on internet marketplaces. U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala delivered the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

The investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), along with the Hartford and Middletown Police Departments, revealed that Lasalle and an accomplice, John Villegas—also known as "Kirby"—conducted five gunpoint robberies in Hartford during late August and early September 2022. These crimes involved robbing individuals who advertised luxury goods such as cell phones and sneakers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp.

Lasalle was apprehended on February 3, 2023. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act and two counts related to carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Currently released on a $50,000 bond, Lasalle is required to report to prison by February 24. His accomplices also faced legal consequences; Villegas received a sentence of 156 months on January 8, 2025, while Valerie Meneses was sentenced to 63 months on October 16, 2024.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and A. Reed Durham prosecuted the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Marc H. Silverman advised individuals engaging in online transactions to use visible and monitored locations for meetings when completing sales.