Two men were arrested by the Morgantown Police Department and charged for robbing people in their apartment, then attempting to extort additional money from the victims.
Thomas Vincent Corcione, 19, of Morgantown, and Marcus Alexander Penrose, 27, of Osage, are each charged with first-degree robbery, attempted extortion and two counts of conspiracy.
On Nov. 4, two men wearing all black and ski masks entered an apartment on Allen Avenue, in Morgantown’s Woodburn neighborhood, pointed pistols at three victims and demanded money from them, a criminal complaint said.
The robbers stole about $400 and one of them demanded the victims place $1,000 cash in a mailbox on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18.
The robbery occurred at 9 p.m. on Nov. 4, but wasn’t reported until 11:39 a.m. on Nov. 11, according to Andrew Stacy, Morgantown’s public information officer.
On Nov. 7, a suspect Snapchatted — a form of social media — one of the victims and said if the money was not in the mailbox on Nov. 11, he would kill the victim. On Nov. 11, the suspect again Snapchatted the victim to ask if the money was in the box, a criminal complaint said.
An envelope was placed in the mailbox by a police officer and the suspect was told on Snapchat the money was there. The suspect said he was on his way and detectives saw Corcione arrive at the apartment, take the envelope and leave the area, the complaint said. He arrived at 9 p.m., Stacy said.
Corcione was arrested and while in custody, received several calls on his cellphone from Penrose.
The victim continued to receive Snapchats asking where the money was while Corcione was in custody, the complaint said. The second suspect was told the money was in the mailbox for a second time.
Detectives then saw Penrose leave Corcione’s house, arrive at the Allen Avenue apartment, go to the mailbox and take an envelope, according to the complaint. Penrose was then arrested. He arrived at 10 p.m., Stacy said.
Stacy said Corcione’s house is on Snider Street, which is connected to Allen Avenue.
Witnesses said Penrose and Corcione talked about the robbery before and after the act, the complaint said.
Police are investigating if the victims knew the alleged robbers, Stacy said.
It is not clear if any firearms were recovered during or after the two men were arrested. The MPD is not releasing the information due to the ongoing investigation, Stacy said.
The two were arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court on Tuesday before Magistrate Tim Pocius. They are being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
