Man whose crew robbed via classifieds gets a break

Judge shaves prison sentence after his ‘180 degree’ change

A Hartford man got a break Tuesday when a federal judge shaved years from his prison sentence for being part of group that used phony, on-line advertisements to lure would-be buyers to Hartford, where they were robbed, often at gun point.

Jayni Traquan Powell, now 24 but 20 at the timeof the crimes in 2017, wassentenced to three months in prison, a substantial reduction from the three to four years he faced under the sentencing guidelines used in federal court.

U.S. District JudgeJeffreyA. Meyersaidhe was persuaded that Powell has made a “180 degree” change in the direction of his life since his arrest in 2017, notably bycontinuing his education, working and moving in with supportive family andfriendsandawayfrom the temptations of his old neighborhood in NorthHartford. Powelltoldthejudgehewas smoking so much marijuana while conspiring withothers to committherobberiesthat he never considered the consequences.

“I wouldwakeupinthemorningandstart smoking,” he said.

Federal prosecutors said Powell was part of agroupoffiveyoungmen, including three minors, who advertised non-existent items such as automobiles on Internet classified sites. Theywoulddirect would-be buyers to locations in Hartford where they would be ambushed and robbed. Powell never brandished aweapontostealmoney, but planned the stick-ups, sometimes drove a getaway car and used his telephone to set up on-line advertisements, federal prosecutors said.

“Even though you never picked up a weapon, you knew what the game was about,” Meyer said.

Three victims said they were robbed at gunpoint when trying to buy cars. One woman said she lost $3,000 in cash and a $1,000 mobile phone after she and her boyfriend were lured to Burnham Street in the Blue Hill’s neighborhood, where she thought she was buying a used car.

“Thefeelingofsomeonehavingthatmuch power and control and not knowing what will happen to you is unbelievable,” the victim said in a letter to the court.

One of Powell’s co-conspirators, Isaiah Halliday, has yet to be sentenced. Disposition of the charges against the minors could not be determined.