RAMSEY COUNTY, Minn. — A Ramsey County man is facing one count of first-degree aggravated robbery after authorities linked him to a recent string of armed robberies involving Facebook Marketplace deals, raising concerns about the safety of online buy-and-sell meetups.

According to Court Documents, last month, Elester Pope IV of Little Canada, Minnesota, agreed to purchase a PlayStation 5, two controllers, and a gaming monitor from an 18-year-old for $650. When the two met for the exchange, court documents say Pope threatened the 18-year-old with a gun and stole the items.

"I have seen an uptick in acts of violence happening with these robberies because it is a good way for, you know, for suspects to make a quick buck," said Alicia Ouellette with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office.

Court

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