Two individuals were arrested in Kansas City after a series of armed robberies linked to Facebook Marketplace.
Court records filed on Tuesday, Nov. 26, reveal that Kendall J. Finley, 19, of Kansas City, faces charges related to multiple armed robberies involving Facebook Marketplace transactions.
A probable cause statement from the Kansas City Police Department detailed the first robbery, which occurred just before 2:10 p.m. on Oct. 3. Authorities responded to a report of an armed robbery in a church parking lot. The victim told police he had arranged to buy a phone from someone on Facebook Marketplace. After handing over the money, the seller, later identified as Finley, pulled out a gun, robbed the man, and threatened him not to call the police.
The description of the Facebook profile matched Finley’s appearance, and an email provided by a family member helped link him to the crime.
Following the Oct. 3 robbery, at least two other armed robberies and one attempted robbery, all connected to Facebook Marketplace transactions, were reported. Each occurred within half a mile of the original incident, and all were tied to Finley. In one instance, Finley allegedly pointed a firearm at a 2-year-old child inside a car, tapping on the window with the gun. Investigators used data from his Facebook account to confirm his presence at all four crime scenes.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Finley’s home, where they found one firearm, firearm parts, accessories, live ammunition, and several cell phones.
Finley was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Detention Center. The juvenile accomplice was also arrested and booked into a juvenile detention facility.
Finley faces charges of robbery and armed criminal action. He remains in custody with a $75,000 bond. A bond review hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and a preliminary hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.
No further details have been released regarding the juvenile due to their age.