4th person pleads guilty in foiled Marketplace robbery that left another dead

PEORIA (25News Now) - The fourth of five people charged in a Facebook Marketplace robbery that went awry has pleaded guilty for his role.

Sontarrius D. Williams, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to armed robbery in the would-be robbery in January 2024 that left one of the robbers dead.

The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office said that in exchange for his guilty plea, the maximum possible sentence was agreed to be 28 years.

On Jan. 15, 2024, two people traveled to Peoria to purchase a vehicle arranged through Facebook Marketplace. They were directed to an alley in the south end where several people including Williams attempted to rob the duo at gunpoint.

One of the purchasers exchanged gunfire with the would-be robbers with a lawfully-owned firearm, leaving one dead.

The person was not charged as the shooting was deemed to be in self-defense.

The suspects were identified using Flock camera images and surveillance footage.

Jalyn Branscumb, 20, Keshawn Williams, 20, and Tanarius Kingcade, 20, previously pleaded guilty to armed robbery. Branscumb was sentenced to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Keshawn Williams will be sentenced on February 4, 2026, and Kingcade on January 9, 2026. The case against Johnathan Williams, 21, remains pending

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