A Philadelphia influencer known as 'Meatball' was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service on Thursday (June 20) in relation to a looting incident that she livestreamed last September.
Dayjia Blackwell initially faced six felony charges including burglary, criminal trespassing, conspiracy, criminal mischief, riot with the intent to commit a felony and criminal use of a communication facility, but entered guilty pleas for the two latter charges, FOX 29 Philadelphia reports.
Blackwell was among the 52 people, including three juveniles, arrested in relation to massive looting in Philadelphia after she livestreamed herself encouraging others when the incidents took place. The influencer appeared to be cheering on the looters and shouted "free iPhones" as a large crowd robbed the Apple store located in Center City on September 26 at around 8:00 p.m. ET.
Blackwell was also seen walking with the crowd as it drove to other areas and moved to other stores, which was reported to include the Apple store located near 15th and Chestnut streets, a Lululemon in the same area and a Footlocker.
"She may be responsible for a lot of other people being arrested because she encouraged those folks and they were, quite frankly, dumb enough to engage and participate and there are going to be consequences for that," Stanford said of Blackwell's involvement in September via NBC Philadelphia.
Stanford said the looting wasn't related to a peaceful protest that took place earlier in the day after charges were dismissed against an officer who shot and killed Eddie Irizarry, 27, over what was deemed as a lack of evidence, according to NBC Philadelphia.