2 men charged in Craigslist robberies

DALE CITY, Va. - Two local men have been charged with using a popular online classified site to rob people at gunpoint.

A man, expecting to buy a television he saw for sale on Craigslist, agreed to meet the seller at an apartment building in Dale City. But instead of getting his TV, court records show the man was robbed of $400, and his cell phone.

Foday Sesay, 18, is accused of meeting the victim and leading him inside. Prince William County police say Derick Stancil, 19, was waiting inside with a shotgun. The men are accused of using the same method to rob a second person in Dale City a few days later. Neither victim was hurt.

Both men have been charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A third man accused of providing the weapon in exchange for money.

Craigslist says the vast majority of its users are trustworthy, but it has suggestions for you if you're meeting a stranger for the first time. Insist on meeting in a public place, tell a friend or family member where you're going, bring your cell phone with you, consider bringing a friend, and trust your instincts.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)