More Than Eight Year Sentence Handed Down for Facebook Marketplace Armed Robberies

            WASHINGTON – Elijah Porter, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, in Superior Court, to 106 months in prison, for charges pertaining to two armed robberies he committed in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Porter pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, to armed robbery for an incident on December 2, 2023, and to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery for an incident on November 8, 2023. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel also ordered Porter to serve three years of supervised release. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 2, 2023, Porter, using a false Facebook account, responded to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for the sale of an Apple MacBook. The defendant arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter asked to inspect the MacBook, so the victim handed the MacBook to the defendant. The defendant then pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun and stole the MacBook from the victim. A search, conducted two days later at Porter’s residence, resulted in the recovery of the victim’s MacBook.

            On November 8, 2023, Porter created an advertisement for the sale of Apple iPhones using a false Facebook account, and the victim responded to the advertisement, eventually agreeing to meet with the defendant to discuss the purchase of the iPhones posted for sale. Porter arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter and an accomplice got into the victim’s vehicle and struck the victim in the face with a handgun. Porter and the accomplice then stole personal property belonging to the victim.

            Porter was arrested on December 4, 2023, and he has remained in custody since. 

            Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hanley and Travis Wolf, who prosecuted the case.