A Wheatley Heights man pleaded guilty to robbing a prospective Facebook Marketplace buyer looking to purchase a video game console from the defendant, then driving off while the victim was still inside the defendant’s car.
On June 16, 2023, at approximately 7:17 p.m., the victim planned to pick up a PlayStation 5, which he had arranged to purchase from Jordan Behling through Facebook Marketplace. When Behling, who was driving a 2020 Chevy Equinox, pulled up to the victim’s home, the victim handed him $280 in cash in exchange for the console through the car window. Behling grabbed the money and sped off while the victim was still partially inside of the car.
Behling then drove for two blocks through intersections while weaving through traffic to purposely shake the victim off the Chevy Equinox, parts of which were captured on video surveillance. He eventually sideswiped a parked car, causing the victim to fall from the vehicle. Behling fled from the scene without stopping to check on the victim or reporting the incident to police.
The victim was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was treated for serious physical injuries that he sustained in the crash, including a shattered pelvis that required multiple surgeries.
At the scene of the crash, police officers found car parts belonging to a Chevy Equinox. An investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department determined that the Chevy had been rented by a member of the defendant’s family and used by Behling at the time of the crash. Law enforcement eventually located the vehicle at the family member’s home and impounded it as evidence.
Further investigation revealed that Behling had also stolen money from two other victims under similar circumstances. In both prior incidents, the victims made arrangements with Behling through Facebook Marketplace to purchase a Play Station 5. Similarly, after the victims went to a location to exchange money for the home video game console, Behling stole the money from them without delivering them the merchandise.
On December 19, 2024, Behling, 23, pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, to the following charges:
- 0ne count of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony
- one count of first-degree assault, a Class B felony
- one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony
- one count of leaving the scene of an incident resulting in serious physical injury, a Class E felony
Behling is due back in court for sentencing on February 13, 2025, and is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison.
“We will not tolerate theft in Suffolk County,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Worse still, this defendant coupled his theft with violence. That equation equals prison.”