Authorities in Miami-Dade have apprehended two men, one of whom is of Cuban descent, linked to a kidnapping and armed robbery incident that originated as a seemingly innocuous iPhone sale on Facebook Marketplace in Doral. Local media reported the arrests.
The individuals detained are Lázaro Núñez Martínez, a 31-year-old of Cuban origin, and Darián Ernesto Morejón Rodríguez, aged 39, whose nationality remains undisclosed.
Núñez Martínez was taken into custody on Sunday during a traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike, while Morejón Rodríguez was arrested the following day by undercover Doral Police officers in Hallandale Beach, Broward County.
A Deceptive iPhone Sale
The scam initiated on September 28, when Núñez Martínez connected with the victim through Facebook Marketplace, successfully selling an iPhone, thereby earning the victim's trust. On October 9, he contacted the victim again, proposing more phones, and they agreed to meet at 6:45 p.m. outside the victim's apartment complex in Doral.
Upon entering the BMW where the seller awaited, the victim discovered Morejón Rodríguez hiding in the backseat, who then pointed a weapon at the victim's head and demanded in Spanish, "We want everything you have, we want your business," according to the arrest report quoted by Univision Miami.
A Desperate Escape
As the vehicle headed east, the victim pleaded for their life and attempted to flee twice. The first attempt near Northwest 87th Avenue and 58th Street was thwarted by a bag around the victim's neck.
In the second attempt, the victim threw approximately $4,000 in cash into some bushes to distract the captors, opened the car door while it was moving, and escaped, seeking refuge in the Solo Printing store at Northwest 76th Avenue and 66th Street, where they managed to contact their spouse to alert Doral Police.
Before his arrest, Núñez Martínez sent a threatening text to the victim, warning against reporting the crime, and the suspects had informed the victim they knew their home address.
Charges and Criminal Background
Núñez Martínez faces charges including armed kidnapping, aggravated assault, grand theft, and victim or witness tampering. A judge ordered him held without bail due to the severity of the armed robbery and kidnapping charges, as noted during the hearing, according to the Univision Miami video transcript.
Court records, as cited by Telemundo 51, indicate that Núñez Martínez has a criminal history, having been incarcerated in 2020 for assault, assaulting an officer, and reckless driving. Morejón Rodríguez was awaiting transfer to Miami-Dade for a bail hearing at the time of reporting.
A Recurrent Scheme
The tactic of initially conducting a legitimate sale to gain the victim's trust before setting up an ambush aligns with documented patterns of Marketplace-related robberies in the metropolitan area. In May 2026, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office arrested four suspects tied to at least 11 robberies against sellers contacted through digital platforms.
In light of this trend, Doral Police have urged citizens to take extra precautions: "We invite you to come here to our station and conduct your transaction here in the Doral police lobby," an officer stated according to Univision Miami. Additionally, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office offers "safe zones" at its district stations, available 24/7.
Key Questions About Miami's Recent Crime Wave
What led to the arrest of the suspects in Miami?
The suspects were apprehended due to their involvement in a kidnapping and armed robbery scheme that began as a supposed iPhone sale on Facebook Marketplace.
How did the victim manage to escape the captors?
The victim attempted to escape twice, ultimately succeeding by throwing cash to distract the kidnappers and fleeing from a moving vehicle, seeking refuge in a nearby store.
What charges are the suspects facing?
Núñez Martínez is charged with armed kidnapping, aggravated assault, grand theft, and tampering with a victim or witness. He is being held without bail.