A jewelry deal arranged through Facebook Marketplace turned into a gunpoint robbery in northeast Franklin late Friday night, sending officers on a pursuit that ended with three men facing felony charges. Police were called to a home in the area just after 11 p.m. on October 9 to respond to a report of an armed robbery.
According to WKRN News 2, the incident was connected to jewelry that had been advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators say the suspects fled the area after the robbery, and officers located them following a pursuit. The three men taken into custody were identified as 22-year-old Nashville resident Ivan Lagos-Espinoza, 23-year-old Nashville resident Jose Paiz-Godoy, and 19-year-old Lebanon resident Rubel Rodriguez-Lisa.
All three face a trio of felony counts: aggravated robbery, felony evading and tampering with evidence, per the station's report. Under Tennessee Code § 39-13-402, aggravated robbery is defined as a robbery committed with a deadly weapon, or with any article fashioned to make a victim reasonably believe it is one, and it is classified as a Class B felony carrying a prison sentence of eight to 30 years, according to Justia.
Felony Evading And Evidence Tampering Add To The Charges
The evading charge also carries serious weight under state law. Tennessee Code § 39-16-603 makes intentionally fleeing or attempting to elude an officer in a vehicle, after being signaled to stop, a Class E felony punishable by one to six years in prison — a penalty that can climb to a Class D felony carrying two to 12 years if the flight creates a risk of injury to bystanders or officers, per Justia. Separately, the Oberman & Rice Law Firm notes that fleeing law enforcement by vehicle in Tennessee carries a mandatory minimum confinement of 30 days upon conviction, regardless of whether additional traffic offenses are proven.
The tampering with evidence charge stems from a separate statute entirely. Tennessee Code § 39-16-503 classifies tampering with or fabricating evidence as a Class C felony, applying to anyone who intentionally alters, destroys, or conceals items to impair their availability in an active police investigation, according to FindLaw. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office reportedly assisted Franklin police in the investigation and capture of the three suspects. Authorities have not released additional details about the incident.
Franklin Police Urge Safer Options For Online Sales
In the wake of the arrests, the Franklin Police Department is renewing its advice for residents who buy and sell goods online. The department recommends meeting in a public place, choosing a well-lit and populated area, and considering a police station or other law enforcement facility when exchanging valuable merchandise, per the same account. Officers also suggest bringing someone along for high-value sales, avoiding large amounts of cash, and withholding personal details such as home address, schedule, or information about valuables.
Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner, who previously served as a deputy chief with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, leads the department from its headquarters at 900 Columbia Avenue, according to the City of Franklin. Franklin, a Williamson County suburb south of Nashville with a population exceeding 85,000, maintains a full-time Records Section at headquarters for processing police reports and public records requests, per the city.
Part Of A Wider Middle Tennessee Pattern
The Franklin case fits a pattern that has repeated across the region this year. High-value, easily portable items such as jewelry, designer sneakers, and luxury watches have been among the most frequently targeted goods in online marketplace ambush robberies reported across Tennessee in 2026, Hoodline has reported. Law enforcement agencies across Middle Tennessee, including departments in Nashville and Murfreesboro, issued public warnings earlier this year following a string of gunpoint Marketplace traps.
Police departments across Tennessee and nationally have pushed for buyers and sellers to use designated Safe Exchange Zones — well-lit parking areas monitored by 24-hour video surveillance — as a way to deter these kinds of ambushes, according to Fox6 News. It remains unclear exactly where in northeast Franklin Friday's meetup took place, what the jewelry was worth, or when the three suspects are due in court.
