Police clear one robbery suspect, seek another

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - Police have identified a new suspect in a supposed bait-and-switch robbery in which one woman has been exonerated.

Felony warrants have been issued for an unnamed man who police believe has fled Georgia, said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli. Meanwhile, the robbery's alleged mastermind, Jamila Alexander, 20, remains jailed without bond on armed robbery and false imprisonment charges.

Police believe Alexander lured a handyman she'd met in a chance encounter named Juan Santos into her Norcross apartment March 26 and made sexual advances toward him while two gunmen robbed him of a cell phone and wallet.

Alexander's girlfriend, Anita Ford, 24, whom she was supposed to wed in Massachusetts next month, was arrested by police on similar charges but cleared Monday, according to a letter prepared by the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.

Ford claims the allegations have cost her a job at a local automotive center and embarrassed her family. Schiralli said at the time of her arrest, Ford had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation.

Alexander and Ford shared an apartment on Beaver Springs Lane, and the victim pointed police to Ford's white Buick LeSabre as the culprit's car.

"It was only within 72 hours that (investigators) learned (Ford) wasn't part of it," Schiralli said. "They did a search warrant on the house and, through normal investigations, were able to be led to a third suspect."

Ford was arrested last Tuesday and released from jail Friday.

Santos told police at the time he was robbed by two black men and that Alexander, calling herself "Nikki," was involved, according to a police report.

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