An Illinois man, who posed as “Benjamin Franklin” on Facebook Marketplace, has been arrested in connection with multiple robbery reports. The suspect, 23-year-old Zyon J. Lay Taylor, allegedly used his account to scam individuals out of cash and goods by offering to buy or sell items.
According to police, Lay Taylor would set up meetings through the platform, and once cash or merchandise was in his possession, he would flee without completing the transaction. A search warrant executed by the Maywood Police Department led to the recovery of various stolen items.
On September 5, Lay Taylor surrendered to authorities and was charged with three felony counts of theft, each involving amounts over $500 but less than $10,000. The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging any potential victims or individuals with information about the crimes to contact Commander Diaz at the Maywood Police Department.