An 18-year-old man from the Chicago area has been charged in a violent robbery that prosecutors say began with a hookup arranged through the Sniffies app.
According to authorities, Jroy Ramey arranged to meet a 30-year-old Uber driver on July 19 near South Drexel Boulevard in Chicago’s Bronzeville/Kenwood area. What began as a planned encounter allegedly turned into a violent ambush: prosecutors say Ramey and an accomplice forced the driver into a secluded spot, brandishing a gun and a bat before demanding his phone and belongings.
When the victim refused to unlock his phone, prosecutors say the second suspect threatened to shoot him. The suspects allegedly used the victim’s face-unlock feature to access his phone, stole his smartwatch, and fled.
After getting a replacement phone, the driver discovered nearly $1,856 in unauthorized charges on his bank account and Uber Eats orders — one of which was reportedly delivered to Ramey’s home address.
Police later executed a search warrant at Ramey’s residence in Maywood. Along with a loaded Glock with a 30-round magazine, officers reportedly recovered multiple ID cards and credit cards that did not belong to residents there. Ramey’s own phone allegedly placed him at the scene when the robbery occurred.
Ramey surrendered to authorities and now faces an armed robbery charge. He also has been linked to a previous armed robbery from February 2025 when he was still a juvenile. His co-conspirator has not yet been identified.
A judge has ordered Ramey held without bail while he awaits trial.
