Columbia Heights Man Charged With First-Degree Aggravated Robbery After Alleged Instagram Marketplace Robbery
Anoka County Jail Booking Photo
Published: July 13th, 2026
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS: A Columbia Heights man is facing a felony charge after prosecutors allege he robbed a man while displaying what appeared to be a handgun and threatening to shoot him during a planned sale arranged through Instagram, according to an Anoka County criminal complaint.
Cesar E. Moran Ordonez, 18, has been charged in Anoka County District Court with one count of first-degree aggravated robbery, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000 if convicted.
According to the criminal complaint, Columbia Heights police responded on July 11, 2026, to an alley west of 5th Street NE in Columbia Heights following a report of a robbery.
The complaint states the victim told officers he had arranged through Instagram to sell two pairs of shoes and a handbag to Moran Ordonez. When the two met, prosecutors allege Moran Ordonez demanded the items, telling the victim, "Give me the shoes, give me the shoes, or I'm about to shoot you."
The victim reported that Moran Ordonez then lifted his shirt, revealing what appeared to be a tan-colored handgun tucked into his waistband. Believing the weapon was real, the victim handed over the shoes and handbag, according to the complaint.
As Moran Ordonez was leaving, prosecutors allege he noticed the victim was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, turned back, and demanded the glasses, again threatening to shoot the victim. The complaint states Moran Ordonez removed the glasses from the victim's face before fleeing.
Police were initially unable to locate Moran Ordonez.
Later that day, according to the complaint, a family member brought Moran Ordonez to the Columbia Heights Police Department, where he waived his Miranda rights and provided a statement.
Prosecutors allege Moran Ordonez admitted taking the victim's property and acknowledged having what he described as a firearm in his waistband, but claimed it was not real and that he never displayed it to the victim. He also allegedly told officers he threw the shoes, the gun and the purse from a vehicle window after leaving the scene because he heard police sirens.
During a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly recovered a white pair of shoes, the victim's Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the purse, according to the complaint.
The case remains pending in Anoka County District Court. The allegations contained in the criminal complaint are accusations, and Moran Ordonez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.