Social media influencer is convicted of hiring his homeless cousin to break into a man's house and steal at gunpoint his internet domain name
https://www.doit4state.com
https://www.instagram.com/doit4state
A social media influencer was convicted on Thursday of hiring his homeless cousin to break into a man's home and steal his internet domain name at gunpoint.
Rossi Lorathio Adams II, 26, faces up to 20 years in prison for the botched attempt to steal the domain for his social media startup that featured videos of drunk young people doing stupid things.
Adams was found guilty by a jury after just one hour of deliberation.
Federal prosecutors said the defendant was a student at Iowa State University when he launched 'State Snaps', a company that compiled and shared photos and videos of people 'engaged in crude behavior, drunkenness, and nudity' on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.
Rossi Lorathio Adams II, 26, was found guilty on Thursday of hiring his homeless cousin to break into a man's home and steal his internet domain name at gunpoint in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in June 2017. Adams (above in his mugshots) faces up to 20 years in prison
State Snaps had gained more than a million followers by 2015, at which point Adams decided to try to buy the website domain 'doitforstate.com', based on the site's slogan.
However, the domain was already registered to a Cedar Rapids resident who refused to sell it.
'Between 2015 and 2017, Adams repeatedly tried to obtain 'doitforstate.com,' but the owner of the domain would not sell it. Adams also threatened one of the domain owner's friends with gun emojis after the friend used the domain to promote concerts,' court records stated.
Adams finally lost his patience in June 2017 and hired his cousin Sherman Hopkins Jr, a convicted felon, to break into the domain owner's home.
Federal prosecutors said Adams was a student at Iowa State University when he launched 'State Snaps', a company that compiled and shared photos and videos of people 'engaged in crude behavior, drunkenness, and nudity' on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. He concocted the plan to steal the domain name 'doitforstate.com' after the owner refused to sell
Adams allegedly drove Hopkins to the home and waited outside as he entered the home wearing pantyhose on his head as well as sunglasses and a hat. He was carrying a stolen gun, a taser and directions on how to transfer the domain via GoDaddy.com.
Adams hired his cousin, convicted felon Sherman Hopkins Jr (above), to break into the domain owner's home in June 2017
When the victim heard Hopkins break into his house, he hid in a bedroom on the second floor.
The suspect kicked down the door and dragged the homeowner into his office where he held a gun to his head and ordered him to carry out the transfer while pistol-whipping him several times.
The victim turned to move the gun away from his head and managed to grab the firearm. An altercation ensued and the victim was shot in the leg and Hopkins was shot in the chest multiple times before calling 911.
Hopkins survived and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last June.
Adams was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force, threats and violence following a four-day trial last week.
He faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine when sentenced later this year.
- Rossi Lorathio Adams II, 26, was convicted on Thursday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- He faces up to 20 years in prison for the botched attempt to steal the domain name for his social media startup 'State Snaps'
- Adams was a student at Iowa State University when he started the company that shared videos of people 'engaged in crude behavior, drunkenness, and nudity'
- He tried to buy the domain doitforstate.com in 2015 but the owner refused to sell
- Adams finally lost his patience in June 2017 and hired his cousin, Sherman Hopkins Jr, a convicted felon, to break into the domain owner's home
- Hopkins held the man at gunpoint and ordered him to transfer the domain
- The victim ended up shot in the leg and Hopkins was shot in the chest
- Hopkins is currently serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty last year
https://www.doit4state.com
https://www.instagram.com/doit4state
A social media influencer was convicted on Thursday of hiring his homeless cousin to break into a man's home and steal his internet domain name at gunpoint.
Rossi Lorathio Adams II, 26, faces up to 20 years in prison for the botched attempt to steal the domain for his social media startup that featured videos of drunk young people doing stupid things.
Adams was found guilty by a jury after just one hour of deliberation.
Federal prosecutors said the defendant was a student at Iowa State University when he launched 'State Snaps', a company that compiled and shared photos and videos of people 'engaged in crude behavior, drunkenness, and nudity' on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.
Rossi Lorathio Adams II, 26, was found guilty on Thursday of hiring his homeless cousin to break into a man's home and steal his internet domain name at gunpoint in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in June 2017. Adams (above in his mugshots) faces up to 20 years in prison
State Snaps had gained more than a million followers by 2015, at which point Adams decided to try to buy the website domain 'doitforstate.com', based on the site's slogan.
However, the domain was already registered to a Cedar Rapids resident who refused to sell it.
'Between 2015 and 2017, Adams repeatedly tried to obtain 'doitforstate.com,' but the owner of the domain would not sell it. Adams also threatened one of the domain owner's friends with gun emojis after the friend used the domain to promote concerts,' court records stated.
Adams finally lost his patience in June 2017 and hired his cousin Sherman Hopkins Jr, a convicted felon, to break into the domain owner's home.
Federal prosecutors said Adams was a student at Iowa State University when he launched 'State Snaps', a company that compiled and shared photos and videos of people 'engaged in crude behavior, drunkenness, and nudity' on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. He concocted the plan to steal the domain name 'doitforstate.com' after the owner refused to sell
Adams allegedly drove Hopkins to the home and waited outside as he entered the home wearing pantyhose on his head as well as sunglasses and a hat. He was carrying a stolen gun, a taser and directions on how to transfer the domain via GoDaddy.com.
Adams hired his cousin, convicted felon Sherman Hopkins Jr (above), to break into the domain owner's home in June 2017
When the victim heard Hopkins break into his house, he hid in a bedroom on the second floor.
The suspect kicked down the door and dragged the homeowner into his office where he held a gun to his head and ordered him to carry out the transfer while pistol-whipping him several times.
The victim turned to move the gun away from his head and managed to grab the firearm. An altercation ensued and the victim was shot in the leg and Hopkins was shot in the chest multiple times before calling 911.
Hopkins survived and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last June.
Adams was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force, threats and violence following a four-day trial last week.
He faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine when sentenced later this year.
