Jacksonville Man Found Guilty of Robbery by Sudden Snatching

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Keith Antonio Brown, Jr., 20, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Robbery by Sudden Snatching and Possession of Less than 20 Grams of Cannabis. Brown now faces a maximum of six years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Linda McCallum the week of June 11, 2019.

On Nov. 6, 2018, Brown agreed to meet with the victim to buy two iPhones the victim listed for sale on a consumer app. The victim arrived at a Firestone Road meeting spot and exited his truck to allow Brown to look at the phones. When he requested to be paid, Brown handed him a counterfeit $100 bill printed on computer paper. In response, the victim retrieved his phones and placed them back in his vehicle. As he climbed into his vehicle to leave, Brown pushed the victim’s door into the victim, reached through the open window, and grabbed the phones.

The victim reported the incident to police and created a second account on the consumer app to locate Brown — he did and saw he was selling the recently stolen phones. Through subsequent messages, Brown gave the victim an address to meet and offered him marijuana to smoke when he arrived. The victim contacted police and they responded to the address. Brown was outside the address smoking a blunt and sitting next to marijuana on top of a counterfeit $100 bill. Brown matched the description the victim provided and was in possession of a phone receiving the victim’s messages. The victim later positively identified Brown in a photo lineup and from the witness stand.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Ashleigh Brooks and Declan Duffy.