'This is all a setup,' suspect says of celebrity barber's robbery claims

Michelle Webber says she, boyfriend never robbed Leonard 'B-Flow' Lopez

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A woman who was arrested in connection with the robbery of a celebrity barber in Miami Beach told Local 10 News that she and her boyfriend were set up.

Miami Beach police said Rafael Marocci de Jesus and his girlfriend, Michelle Webber, were arrested early Thursday in connection with Tuesday's robbery of Leonard "B-Flow" Lopez.

Lopez, 36, whose clients include rapper Flo Rida, said he was robbed at gunpoint by two men as he was walking in the 1500 block of Drexel Avenue. Lopez told Local 10 News that the robbers stole his $100,000 platinum necklace, a $50,000 rose gold Audemars Piguet watch, a $10,000 ring and a wallet.

According to an arrest report, Lopez told police that he knew one of the men who robbed him.  Lopez said he met the man, identified as Marocci de Jesus, earlier in the month about a rental contract and was "a thousand percent sure" that he was the man who robbed him.

Police said Lopez was walking along Northeast 11th Street a short time later when he saw the robbers' car. Police said Webber got out and handed Lopez a plastic bag containing his stolen jewelry, telling him, "Here, I don't want any problems."

Lopez called police and arranged to meet with Webber on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, where she was taken into custody.

Police said Webber admitted that she got the jewelry from her boyfriend and knew it was stolen. But it's how they got the jewelry that Webber claims differs from the story Lopez told police and Local 10 News earlier this week.

"This is all a setup," Webber told Local 10 News reporter Liane Morejon after she was released from jail.

Webber said her boyfriend heard about what happened to Lopez on the news and went to see him, entering the apartment that he rents to Lopez.

 

"He saw that the jewelry was there in the nightstand table," Webber said, claiming that her boyfriend took the jewelry.

During a search of Webber's phone, detectives saw a picture of Webber wearing the necklace and watch.

"I was just being stupid with the Snapchat, and I took a picture with the jewelry," Webber told Morejon.

Marocci de Jesus faces a charge of armed robbery and was being held without bond.

Webber, who faces a charge of accessory after the fact, insists that she and Marocci de Jesus had nothing to do with any robbery.

"For him to say that, he's something else," Webber said.

Lopez maintains his story.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.