St. Johns felon charged with robbery after luring victim through Snapchat

A 20-year-old Hstings man was arrested Thursday after St. Johns County deputies say he robbed a person at gunpoint during a planned firearm sale arranged through social media. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Joseph William Silcott was taken into custody Thursday following an armed robbery investigation that began earlier that afternoon. Deputies said the victim had arranged through Snapchat to purchase a firearm from Silcott. The two agreed to meet at the victim’s residence, where Silcott arrived in a black Saturn SUV shortly after 1:30 p.m. Silicott lived along this road in Hastings. (Google Maps) Investigators say the victim entered the rear passenger seat of the vehicle to complete the transaction. During the meeting, the victim handed Silcott $400 in cash — consisting of fifteen $20 bills and two $50 bills — in exchange for the firearm, according to an arrest report. Instead of completing the sale, deputies say Silcott pulled out a handgun and pointed it directly at the victim with his finger on the trigger. Authorities said Silcott threatened to “paint the car with him” if the victim did not immediately get out. The victim exited the SUV as instructed. While doing so, investigators say
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