By Jack B. Winn
Drawing on the success of social media in arresting notorious Boston ganster, Whitey Bulger, this past summer, the FBI is hoping to nab a man that robbed an armored car, killed a man, and made out with millions with a little help from Facebook.
Kenneth John Konias, Jr., an armored car driver, is wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of his co-worker and the theft of approximately $2.3 million in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Konias, 22, fled the scene following the shooting of Michael Haines while the two were working a shift for Garda Cash Logistics in Pittsburgh's Strip district Feb. 28.
Konias' Ford Explorer was captured by nearby security cameras leaving the scene. In a phone call to a friend, Konias later confessed to the killing, asking the friend to abscond with him as well as extradition laws for fugitives.
Konias, who is heavily armed, is suspected of fleeing with three guns as well as a bulletproof vest.
The FBI posted a notice to its 216,000 Facebook page fansasking for help in locating the suspect. Since Tuesday when it went up, the wall post was shared 426 times, commented on by 113 people, and “liked” 420 times.
The FBI is hoping that a would-be tipster sees the post on their smartphone and spies Konias in a restaurant or bar, putting a fateful call of their own to the FBI field office in Pittsburgh. A federal warrant is out for Konias in addition to state police charges for homicide, robbery and theft. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI direct via 1-800-CALL FBI (225-5324).
The social media is part of a large investigation and attempt to drum up leads in the week since the robbery-murder. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Review, Special Agent Robert Ambrosini confirmed that details are still trickling in and that they remain hopeful of Facebook’s utility in capturing the suspect.
"It's a way of reaching a wider audience," Ambrosini said. "Before, a person might have seen the poster by walking into a post office. Now you have access right on your iPhone or Blackberry."
The FBI has yet to get it's man, but the agency is biding its time.
"This is how these fugitive investigations go," Ambrosini said. "Sometimes you apprehend them in a few days, or it may take weeks or months. We certainly don't forget that he's out there, and the public won't forget that he's out there at large."
In the meantime, the FBI is beefing up its social media presence beyond just Facebook, reaching out to citizens via Twitter and other social media outlets as well. With over 540,000 fans on Twitter and Facebook combined, the agency is one of the most popular government agencies on social media, according to OhMyGov Analytics. Twitter accounts include @NewYorkFBI and @FBIPressOffice.
www.ohmygov.com
