Two more men have been arrested in connection with a 2025 Facebook Marketplace meetup in Riverview that turned violent. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a seller arrived at an office park in November 2025 to meet two buyers. Instead, they pulled a pistol and a rifle, robbed him at gunpoint, and fired shots as he ran. He was not injured. Syrus Pentecost, who authorities say set up the robbery, is already in Florida State Prison. Last week, detectives obtained warrants for Michael Moore and Daniel Yanacheck. Yanacheck was found hiding in a Bradenton attic, where deputies recovered one of the guns.
The case is a reminder that online marketplace meetups carry real risk, even here on the Suncoast. Sheriff Chad Chronister discussed the investigation in a video on the agency’s Facebook page. The sheriff’s office continues to urge buyers and sellers to use designated Safe Spaces, which are monitored parking areas set up specifically for online exchanges. Meeting during daylight hours and bringing a friend or family member along are two more simple steps that make a difference.
Every law enforcement agency in our area offers some version of this program, usually in the lobby or front parking lot of a district office. It costs nothing, and you don’t need an appointment. If a buyer or seller refuses to meet you at one, that alone is worth paying attention to.
Do you know where the nearest Safe Space is in your county?
