MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A weekend getaway turned into a nightmare for a man who says he was drugged and robbed of $200,000 in jewelry by a woman he initially met on Instagram.
Authorities say the incident occurred on Dec. 9 when Akkura Stover, 21, of North Carolina, traveled to Miami Beach to meet the victim, Daniel Winters, of Gainesville.
Miami Beach police said the pair stayed at the Monte Carlo Hotel on Collins Avenue, located at 6551 Collins Avenue.
Authorities said the two spent the weekend together at the hotel, but by Monday morning, the situation took a sinister turn.
According to police, Winters told investigators he drank vodka served by Stover and soon began to feel “sick and dizzy.”
Moments later, police said Stover pulled a handgun from her purse, pointed it at Winters, and screamed, “Get back!”
Stover then stole $3,000 in cash and approximately $200,000 worth of diamond and gold jewelry from the victim before fleeing the scene in a rideshare vehicle, authorities said.
As police launched their investigation, they uncovered another disturbing element.
Detectives identified 30-year-old Deshawn Casey as Stover’s alleged accomplice. Investigators say Casey contacted Winters and attempted to intimidate him into buying back his stolen jewelry.
Instead of complying, police said Winters worked with authorities to track down both suspects. Stover and Casey were arrested shortly after, according to an arrest report.
Jail records show Stover and Casey are facing one count each of armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Casey faces an additional charge of threats and extortion, police said.
As of Monday, both suspects were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Stover has been denied bond, while Casey’s bond is set at $15,000, with an additional hold for a Nebbia hearing. Both suspects were also ordered to stay away from the victim.
A Nebbia hearing requires the defendant to disclose the source of the funds used to pay the bond.