Wilmington Teen Indicted for Sneaker Scam

WOBURN, MA -- An 18-year-old Wilmington man was indicted today after he was accused of arranging a meeting in Wilmington to buy a woman's collector Air Jordan sneakers, only to pistol-whip her, and steal her sneakers, laptop and phone.

Yvens Jean, 18, of Wilmington, was indicted on charges of armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping and firearms charges.

His is scheduled to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on May 1.

Prosecutors allege that police used the laptop's tracking device to locate it at a Malden computer shop. Jean allegedly sold the $2,000 laptop for $100.

Although the victim only knew her assailant through his screen name, "Jhames Dean," police arrested Jean after he used his 2017 Everett High School ID to sell the laptop.

Jean, 18, who listed his address in Wilmington, was ordered held without bail pending an April 14 dangerousness hearing.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of: firearm-armed robbery; assault with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (three counts); fire-armed kidnapping; and carrying a firearm without a license.

Jean also is facing charges from Everett police for a similar robbery on Feb. 23, 2016 where is accused of using the "Jhames Dean" moniker to arrange a meeting to sell a pair of Black Adidas Flyers, only to rob the victim at gunpoint.

In the Wilmington case, police allege that on Dec. 27, 2016, they received a report of an armed robbery in the Suncrest Avenue involving a firearm.

The victim , a 26-year-old Malden woman, told police she met "Jhames Dean" on a Facebook page for "sneakerheads.''

He agreed to buy her collector pair of black Air Jordan Space Jam Sneakers for $229. They agreed to meet in Wilmington.
Soon after they met, police allegedly Jean pointed a gun at the victim's chest and demanded the sneakers.

When she balked he used the butt of the gun to strike her in the face, creating a gash above her eye, police allege.
The man fled with het sneakers, her laptop and a $100 phone.

File photo of Yvens Jean.