A Randolph man’s quest for a scooter ended when he was robbed at gunpoint, but the alleged mastermind of the incident was identified and charged after the victim told police, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JOSHUA “JEL” MIRANDA (D.O.B. 1/11/91) of Quincy was arraigned in Dorchester District Court yesterday on charges of armed robbery, witness intimidation, and threatening to commit a crime for the incident earlier this month. Assistant District Attorney Brendan Cox recommended that he be held on $7500 cash bail; Judge Kenneth Desmond set bail at $2500 and ordered Miranda to have no contact with the victim.
At Cox’ request, Desmond also ordered Miranda’s attorney not to provide the defendant with any information that could be used to locate or contact the victim.

The 32-year-old victim first reported the incident to Quincy Police, telling an officer that he had been robbed Aug. 6 while trying to buy a scooter. The incident began in Quincy but ended in Dorchester, so Quincy Police last week notified Boston Police detectives assigned to District 11.

The victim told Boston investigators that a friend had recently bought a scooter and, when asked where he’d purchased it, referred the victim to the defendant, whom he knew as “Jel.” The friend provided the victim with a phone number for “Jel,” and the victim called him.

After learning that the victim was ready to spend $500, “Jel” allegedly instructed the victim to pick him up at an address on Lancaster Street in Quincy, from where they would drive to the scooter. The victim followed this instruction and the two men travelled in the victim’s car to another location, now believed to be a Hamilton Street address. They found a locked, chained scooter in a back yard: the defendant allegedly told the victim that this scooter was not for sale and they had to go to another location.
At that second location, now believed to be on Juliette Street, “Jel” allegedly told the defendant to stop so he could urinate. The victim heard him use his cell phone and say, “I’m here.” A few minutes later, two men approached the victim’s car. One went to the driver’s side and produced a handgun; the other went to the passenger’s side and put his hand to his waistband.

“Give me your money or die,” the man on the driver’s side said. “I know you have $500 on you.”
The victim handed over his wallet. The man told him to leave and not call police. As the victim drove away, he saw “Jel” allegedly high-fiving the two men.

Because the victim was unfamiliar with the area, Boston Police detectives drove him from the Lancaster Street scene where he picked up “Jel” into Dorchester to identify the locations of the two stops. Detectives also made contact with “Jel” through the phone number that the victim’s friend initially provided him. At that time, he identified himself as Miranda. The victim was subsequently able to identify Miranda through a photo array.

In the aftermath of the detective’s call, Miranda allegedly called the victim and said, “If the cops show up, I’ll kill you.”

Boston Police obtained a warrant for Miranda’s arrest. He turned himself in yesterday morning.

Attorney Richard Doyle represents Miranda. The case will return to court on Sept. 23.