Air Jordan Scam Busted In Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA — Sydney Marcell Fisher already had successfully pulled off one sneaker scam, officials said, so he apparently felt emboldened to attempt it again the same day. Alas for the Stafford man, 18, the second try literally was a bust, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

His arrest came after police responded to an auto accident last week in the area of Jefferson Davis Highway, where they found a man with severe cuts on his knee standing outside a gray Jeep Wrangler that had run off the road. While the victim received treatment for his injuries, police spoke to the man sitting in the vehicle.

The man, Fisher, said he had agreed to meet the victim at their location to buy two pairs of Air Jordan basketball shoes for sale in the Letgo app for buying and selling used items. He said when he saw the shoes, he returned to his vehicle to get the agreed-upon $300. But Fisher said the victim then went up to his vehicle and tried to gain entry, prompting Fisher to begin to drive away with the victim hanging on to the door. Fisher wound up crashing into a tree.

Not so, the victim told police. Yes, he had agreed to sell the shoes to Fisher for $300. But Fisher had only $80, so he took the shoes and told the victim he'd get the rest of the cash from his vehicle. Instead, Fisher began to drive away, so the victim grabbed the door and tried to grab the wheel to stop the vehicle, which swerved off the road and hit a tree.

After being taken to a local hospital, the victim showed police screen shots of his conversation with Fisher. But Fisher's name was displayed as Mark Jamison on the app; the victim said that's how Fisher described himself while making the deal.

Fisher later admitted to police he used "Mark Jamison" as a pseudonym. He was arrested and charged with reckless driving and petit larceny. But his problems soon got worse.

Seems earlier that day, police had responded to a larceny complaint at Town Square Circle. The victim said he met a man named Mark Jamison who agreed to buy two pairs of Jordan sneakers he was selling on the Letgo app.

After looking at the shoes, "Jamison" asked if he could show the shoes to a friend at a nearby apartment to verify their authenticity. The victim agreed but Fisher never returned. He tried to text him on the app over the next 45 minutes before finding out Fisher had blocked him.

So Fisher now faces pending charges for that incident, and police believe there could be other victims. Toward that end, anyone who has been in contact with a Mark Jamison or Sydney Fisher regarding the sale of sneakers is urged to call police at 540-658-4400.

Photo: Stafford County Sheriff's Office