$75k Bail in Robberies Allegedly Set Up Using Social Media

BOSTON, Nov. 23, 2015—A Dorchester man was held on high bail at his arraignment today on charges that he robbed at least five men who thought they were meeting up with a woman using a social networking site, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

RAKEEM AUSTIN (D.O.B. 9/18/85) of Dorchester is charged with five counts each of armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and threats to commit a crime for the string of incidents between Oct. 14 and Nov. 21. Assistant District Attorney Michele Granda recommended that he be held on $200,000 cash bail; Dorchester Municipal Court Judge Lisa Grant set bail at $15,000 on each of the five dockets, for a total of $75,000.

At Granda’s request, Grant also revoked Austin’s bail on unrelated open cases charging breaking and entering, trespassing, assault and battery, and drug distribution.

According to prosecutors, the victims – all men between the ages of 29 and 54 – travelled to various locations near Austin’s Edson Street home after meeting a person they believed to be named “Candy,” “Lizzy,” or “Love” on a web site known as Tagged.com.

When the victims arrived, however, a man meeting Austin’s description confronted each of them with a gun and demanded their valuables. As the investigation proceeded, each victim went on to identify Austin from a photo array. Boston Police detectives also learned that a GPS monitoring device worn by Austin was at the scene of each robbery at the time it was committed.

As a result of the evidence developed in the course of the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Austin’s arrest and took him into custody on Saturday morning. Detectives are also looking at other, similar incidents for potentially linked offenses.

Austin was represented today by attorney David Leon. He will return to court on Dec. 18.

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.