Man Who Robbed Victims After Luring Them Via Craigslist Sentenced

A New Jersey man who robbed victims at gunpoint after luring them using Craigslist will spend years in state prison.

Shawn Christopher McShane, 29, of Ocean City, New Jersey, was sentenced Monday by  Bucks County Judge Rea B. Boylan to spend 12 to 24 years in state prison.

McShane pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, one count of aggravated assault and one count of persons not to possess firearm, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

Before being sentenced, McShane apologized to the victims for the crime where he robbed two sets of people of thousands of dollars in Bristol Township in January.

“I feel sorry for everyone involved,” McShane said in court. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. My only concern was getting high. I need help.”

McShane said before the judge that drug addiction was at the root of his crimes.

According to authorities, the first victim, a Chester County man, was robbed on Naomi Court in Levittown and lost $4,200 in cash, his cellphone and wallet. The second set of victims, two men from Camden, were robbed on Leedom Avenue in Bristol and told investigators the suspect stole $4,600 in cash.

The two sets of victims were lured to Bristol Township in response to a Craigslist ad to buy a 2004 Honda Civic.

Detectives launched an “intensive investigation” and discovered McShane was their suspect.  Bristol Township  Detectives Timothy Furhrmann and Gregory Beidler responded to a bar in the 500 block of Veterans Highway and found McShane inside.

When uniformed patrol officers and detectives went to take McShane into custody, he allegedly put up a struggle before being detained, police said. He was found carrying two bundles of cash totaling more than $5,300, a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun, the first victim’s driver’s license and debit card, marijuana, and more than $600 in his wallet.

While at the holding cell at the police station on Bath Road, McShane fought with officers in a failed attempt to escape. Officer Jason Reilly was injured during the escape attempt.

Deputy District Attorney Antonetta Stancu said McShane had a criminal history of drug, assault and firearms convictions dating to 2006.

“Almost all of his past criminal contacts involve a gun,” Stancu told Boylan in court. “It’s the same behavior, over and over.”