SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A San Francisco federal grand jury has convicted a 38-year-old man accused of robbing and brandishing a firearm during a Craigslist transaction, Acting United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch said.
Authorities said Tuan Ngoc Luong, dubbed as the “Craigslist Robber,” used Craigslist to lure a victim to a robbery. According to trial evidence, Luong posted a Craigslist ad in February 2015 saying his car was for sale.
He arranged with the potential buyer to meet at the Castro Valley BART Station, Stretch said. But when the buyer took the car for a test drive with Luong, the suspect told the buyer to drive to a house where he claimed he would get the title to the car, according to authorities.
When they got to the home, Luong pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the victim and robbed him of his cellphone, personal items, and credit card. Luong then sped away.
Sheriff’s deputies captured Luong two days later in an undercover sting operation. A deputy posed as a buyer to the same Craigslist ad.
Luong was arrested when he met with the undercover sheriff’s deputy. When Luong was arrested, authorities found a gun on him matching the same description used in the robbery.
A federal grand jury charged Luong on March 26, 2015. He was charged with “with interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii); and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).”
“The case first went to trial in September 2015 before the Honorable Haywood Gilliam, United States District Judge,” Stretch said in a press release. “The jury convicted Luong of being a felon in possession of a firearm, but was unable to reach a verdict on the other two charges. Today [Thursday], the jury found Luong guilty of the remaining two the charges.”
Luong is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25.