Investigators say teen robbed after using buy-sell app

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A 15-year-old Walton County girl is recovering from a terrifying ordeal involving robbery and attempted kidnapping.

It started when the teen 15 responded to a Letgo app ad to buy a cell phone by giving her home address.

Investigators told FOX 5 News three men arrived at the girls Walton County address in a dark car.

Her mother said they first robbed her of 230 dollars then tried to kidnap her.

“He grabbed her, took the money and started dragging her toward the car. And they started picking her up trying to pull her into the car,” said the victim’s mother who didn’t want her or her daughter’s identity revealed.

She said her daughter has an injured knee and scrapes and bruises she suffered while dragged by the car.

Investigators said they worked with Letgo personal to track down the trio of robbers.

“With the cooperation of Letgo and their law enforcement liaisons we were able to start determining IP addresses,” said Major Damien Mercer, with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

He said an undercover buy was set up with help of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office with the same three to purchase a cell phone again through the Letgo app.

They met at a Lawrenceville neighborhood not far from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Major Mercer said one man with a gun approached two undercover officers in an unmarked car.

“It could have been a bad situation because they showed up to commit an armed robbery with a .9 mm handgun when they confronted you folks or the other way around? correct,” said Major Mercer.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office releases a picture of two of the three arrested, 19-year-olds Konterrias Thomas and Clarence James.

Both are from Hall County and apparently had plans to rob again.

“We were able to get them to tell us that they were going to leave that location and had another location to meet somebody from a Letgo ad,” said Major Mercer.

The victim’s mother said it’s her daughter thought the ad was safe because it was referred by a friend.

She said it’s a tough lesson learned.

“It’s best to make arrangements to meet people for buying something at the Sheriff’s Department,” she said.

James and Thomas are both being held at the Gwinnett County Jail on armed robbery, kidnapping, and aggravated assault charges.

The 15-year-old suspect is facing similar charges. His name was not released because he is a minor.

But Major Mercer said because of the severity of the crimes the Sheriff’s Office is asking the District Attorney’s Office to consider trying him as an adult.