Falls Man Charged in Craigslist Robbery

A 19-year-old Menomonee Falls man is facing charges after he and a West Allis man attempted to rob a man they lured to a West Allis home via a Craigslist ad.

Jacob A. Shefchik was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Monday with one count of attempted robbery. If convicted, he faces up to 7 ½ years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

In mid January, Shefchik connected with the victim via an ad on Craigslist in which the victim was purchasing iPods. Shefchik told the man he had one of the devices for sale and was willing to meet him outside of a residence in West Allis.

The deal went off without a hitch and the victim gave Shefchik $200 for the device.

On Jan. 22, Shefchik again contacted the victim and told him he had two iPods he would sell for $220. The victim agreed to the purchase and agreed to meet Shefchik outside a residence near 94th Place and Schlinger Avenue in West Allis.

The victim went to the address, but also had a friend following him in another car to the scene. When he arrived to the home, Shefchik and a 22-year-old man were waiting for him. They then walked toward a garage area behind the home to complete the deal.

When the victim asked where the iPods were, the other man told him “my dad is taking too long, I’ll go get them,” then grabbed the victim from behind in a bear hug and slammed him to the ground.

Shefchik then demanded the victim give him all his money or he would pull out a gun. He then started to go through the victim’s pockets while the accomplice tried to cover his mouth and put him in a chokehold.

The victim was able to break free and then worked to pull both men off of him.

Police interviewed Shefchik on Feb. 2, who told them he sold the victim an iPod he stole from his brother in January in order to feed his Percocet and narcotic pill addiction and had planned to sell him two more at the time the incident took place.

He first denied trying to rob the victim, saying the victim bumped into the other man and they ended up wrestling on the ground and he was trying to separate the two men. He denied going through the man’s pockets or threatening to pull a gun, saying he would have pulled one out if he had one.

He then told police he was planning to sell the victim the iPods, but changed his mind when the victim arrived when the other man suggested they rob him instead, but Shefchik still denied threatening to pull a gun or going through the victim’s pockets.

Finally, he admitted to telling the victim he would get a gun if he didn’t get off of the other man.

Shefchik will make his initial appearance in court March 26. His accomplice in the crime has yet to be charged.