People v. Medeiros CA3

BACKGROUND

In February 2018, then 15-year-old N.M. posted two pairs of size nine Nike Jordan shoes (a black and red pair and a black and gold pair) for sale on the application “LetGo.” A person named Tony Azarello contacted N.M. through the application and they agreed on a price. They exchanged cell phone numbers through the application and began texting each other, arranging to meet at a park to complete the sale. The name associated with the cell phone texting with N.M. was Karina Lozano. When N.M. arrived at the park, he saw a white Lexus. Defendant was the driver and a woman was seated in the front passenger seat. Defendant and the woman asked to see the shoes and N.M. handed them into the car. Defendant pulled out some money, asked the woman for some money, and then drove off without paying N.M. for the shoes. N.M. called 911 to report the theft. Earlier that day, T.W. had posted her iPhone for sale for $500 on the LetGo application. A person named Tony Azarello contacted her through the application and they exchanged phone numbers. The name associated with the phone number Azarello used was a “number from a Katrina.” T.W. and Azarello agreed to meet at a grocery store…