Clyde Jefferson, 28, of St. Louis, appeared before United States District Judge E. Richard
Webber and pled guilty to five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of
brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Webber set the case for
sentencing on January 14, 2021.
Jefferson admitted that he used online marketplaces including Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp,
and Letgo to arrange for victims to sell him their iPhones at locations in the City of St. Louis and
St. Louis County. When meeting the victims, Jefferson would offer them counterfeit currency in
exchange for their iPhones. Jefferson brandished a firearm during several of the transactions,
which occurred on August 3, September 21, and October 8, 2018, and on January 8 and 29,
2019.
The United States alleges that Jefferson shot one of his victims, a fact which Jefferson disputes
and the Court will resolve at the sentencing hearing.
This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service, the St. Louis Metropolitan
Police Department and the Richmond Heights Police Department. Assistant United States
Attorney Jennifer Roy is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
-- United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of Missouri