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Eight men said they were robbed after criminals gained access to their phones to transfer thousands of dollars out of their bank accounts, largely via mobile payment apps.
Jace Curry said he lost consciousness before being robbed during a night out in Atlanta.Kendrick Brinson for NBC News
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By Matt Lavietes
Eight men said they lost consciousness and were then robbed of thousands of dollars while out at bars in a wealthy Atlanta neighborhood from November 2021 to last month, according to conversations with six of the men and police reports filed by two others.
The men said they believed they were drugged or described feeling abnormally intoxicated shortly before their phones were used to transfer thousands of dollars out of their bank accounts — largely using mobile payment apps such as Venmo, Zelle, Apple Cash, PayPal and CashApp — and their credit cards were used to make fraudulent purchases, according to documentation victims shared with NBC News and police records.
Five of the eight men — one of whom was the subject of an NBC News report in February — also alleged that while they were in and out of consciousness on the nights of their encounters, they were driven around Atlanta in unfamiliar cars by strangers.
The alleged incidents occurred after the men went out to bars in Buckhead, an affluent Atlanta neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife and young crowd. After NBC News reported about an incident at Five Paces Inn, a bar in the neighborhood, additional alleged victims reached out with similar accounts. NBC News found other alleged victims through social media and public records requests to the Atlanta Police Department focusing on several local bars.
While four men said the alleged crimes occurred at Five Paces Inn, others said incidents took place at three other popular bars in the area: Thirty, Johnny’s Hideaway and The Ivy Buckhead.
Six of the men reported the crimes to the police, and all of their cases remain open, according to a spokesperson for the APD, officer Anthony Grant.
Five Paces Inn is a popular bar in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood, an affluent area known for its nightlife.Kendrick Brinson for NBC News
Revelations about the alleged crimes in Atlanta come nearly two years after NBC News began reporting on a spate of crimes with notable similarities in New York City, with some targeting gay bars. Criminals incapacitated and robbed over three dozen victims after gaining access to their phones, prosecutors alleged, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people
In one of the cases in Atlanta, Chandler Rebel, 24, said he was robbed of about $13,000 after visiting Five Paces Inn with friends in August 2022.
The last thing Rebel remembers at the bar was ordering a round of drinks for his friends. He then recalls briefly coming to in the back seat of an accelerating vehicle while being restrained by an unknown person.
“I just remember everything was black in there, trying to scream, but it was like a hand was over me, forcing more of that substance down my mouth,” Rebel said, explaining that it was something solid, but he’s not sure what.
He said he woke up several hours later while “violently” throwing up blood in a gas station bathroom 3 miles away from the bar. Rebel filed a police report about a week after the alleged incident and his case is still active.
A spokesperson said that the sports bar and music venue takes the safety of its patrons “very seriously” and encouraged victims of crimes at the bar to contact the police.
“Five Paces is aware of reports of criminal activity occurring in and around Buckhead but is not aware of any criminal activities taking place within Five Paces,” the spokesperson, Scott A. Minot, said in an email. “Five Paces has not been contacted by any alleged victims or the police and has no additional information or knowledge about any of these incidents or reports.”
Johnny’s Hideaway also said that the police never contacted the bar to inquire about any of the alleged crimes. The Ivy Buckhead and Thirty Bar did not return NBC News’ requests for comment.
“The Atlanta Police Department is aware of these cases and is investigating each,” Sgt. John Chafee said in a statement. “While we are not at a point of releasing details on each of these investigations, I can tell you these are cases we take seriously and our investigators are committed to finding who is responsible and apprehending them.”
Rebel and the five men who spoke with NBC News described blackouts on the nights of their incidents that they said did not resemble the effects of alcohol. They said they consumed typical amounts of alcohol, but described feeling “funny” or “dizzy” before losing consciousness. Some of the men also described experiencing a sensation similar to paralysis, where they lost control of their speech and movements.
www.nbcnews.com
Jace Curry said he lost consciousness before being robbed during a night out in Atlanta.Kendrick Brinson for NBC News
SHARE THIS —
By Matt Lavietes
Eight men said they lost consciousness and were then robbed of thousands of dollars while out at bars in a wealthy Atlanta neighborhood from November 2021 to last month, according to conversations with six of the men and police reports filed by two others.
The men said they believed they were drugged or described feeling abnormally intoxicated shortly before their phones were used to transfer thousands of dollars out of their bank accounts — largely using mobile payment apps such as Venmo, Zelle, Apple Cash, PayPal and CashApp — and their credit cards were used to make fraudulent purchases, according to documentation victims shared with NBC News and police records.
Five of the eight men — one of whom was the subject of an NBC News report in February — also alleged that while they were in and out of consciousness on the nights of their encounters, they were driven around Atlanta in unfamiliar cars by strangers.
The alleged incidents occurred after the men went out to bars in Buckhead, an affluent Atlanta neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife and young crowd. After NBC News reported about an incident at Five Paces Inn, a bar in the neighborhood, additional alleged victims reached out with similar accounts. NBC News found other alleged victims through social media and public records requests to the Atlanta Police Department focusing on several local bars.
While four men said the alleged crimes occurred at Five Paces Inn, others said incidents took place at three other popular bars in the area: Thirty, Johnny’s Hideaway and The Ivy Buckhead.
Six of the men reported the crimes to the police, and all of their cases remain open, according to a spokesperson for the APD, officer Anthony Grant.
Revelations about the alleged crimes in Atlanta come nearly two years after NBC News began reporting on a spate of crimes with notable similarities in New York City, with some targeting gay bars. Criminals incapacitated and robbed over three dozen victims after gaining access to their phones, prosecutors alleged, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people
In one of the cases in Atlanta, Chandler Rebel, 24, said he was robbed of about $13,000 after visiting Five Paces Inn with friends in August 2022.
The last thing Rebel remembers at the bar was ordering a round of drinks for his friends. He then recalls briefly coming to in the back seat of an accelerating vehicle while being restrained by an unknown person.
“I just remember everything was black in there, trying to scream, but it was like a hand was over me, forcing more of that substance down my mouth,” Rebel said, explaining that it was something solid, but he’s not sure what.
He said he woke up several hours later while “violently” throwing up blood in a gas station bathroom 3 miles away from the bar. Rebel filed a police report about a week after the alleged incident and his case is still active.
A spokesperson said that the sports bar and music venue takes the safety of its patrons “very seriously” and encouraged victims of crimes at the bar to contact the police.
“Five Paces is aware of reports of criminal activity occurring in and around Buckhead but is not aware of any criminal activities taking place within Five Paces,” the spokesperson, Scott A. Minot, said in an email. “Five Paces has not been contacted by any alleged victims or the police and has no additional information or knowledge about any of these incidents or reports.”
Johnny’s Hideaway also said that the police never contacted the bar to inquire about any of the alleged crimes. The Ivy Buckhead and Thirty Bar did not return NBC News’ requests for comment.
“The Atlanta Police Department is aware of these cases and is investigating each,” Sgt. John Chafee said in a statement. “While we are not at a point of releasing details on each of these investigations, I can tell you these are cases we take seriously and our investigators are committed to finding who is responsible and apprehending them.”
Rebel and the five men who spoke with NBC News described blackouts on the nights of their incidents that they said did not resemble the effects of alcohol. They said they consumed typical amounts of alcohol, but described feeling “funny” or “dizzy” before losing consciousness. Some of the men also described experiencing a sensation similar to paralysis, where they lost control of their speech and movements.
Men in Atlanta kidnapped and robbed of thousands after visiting Buckhead bars
Eight men said they were robbed after criminals gained access to their phones to transfer thousands of dollars out of their bank accounts, largely via mobile payment apps.
how you got a crew of 8 people and the whole squad suckas? 8 of yall being driven around and violated all night
this had something to do with p*ssy...
