Couple uses fake Tinder profile to rob unsuspecting date at gunpoint, leads Phoenix cops on multi-city car chase

A couple who used a fake Tinder profile to rob an unsuspecting man at gunpoint last month led Phoenix police on a multi-city car chase over the weekend, which ultimately resulted in their arrest.

On September 19, Phoenix Police Department responded to a call from a man who alleged he had been robbed at gunpoint. The man said he was attempting to meet a Tinder date – a woman who said her name was "Sonya" – at the Embassy Suites hotel in Phoenix.

He told authorities that when he arrived at the room, he was held at gunpoint by a couple who stole his cell phone, identification cards, social media accounts, PIN code, bank account information, and vehicle.

"The victim stated $900 was taken from Chase Bank on Sept. 17 from the drive through and a total of $3,000 had been taken from his account since the initial incident," the police report stated, according to KSAZ-TV.

The couple was later identified as Jose Sandoval Jaquez, 32, and Crystal Hulsey, 33.

Police said the suspects used their real names to book the Phoenix hotel room. The robbery victim also provided authorities with bank statements showing partial Zelle and Cash App usernames belonging to the suspects, which were used to confirm their identities.

The two suspects drove the victim's vehicle to California and Las Vegas. On September 25, Las Vegas police located the vehicle and discovered a handgun inside matching the description of the one used in the robbery.

Phoenix police found an online escort advertisement with Hulsey's phone number, which they used to set up a meeting time and location. When a Nissan Rogue pulled up to the meeting location, authorities identified the driver and passenger as Jaquez and Hulsey.

Police attempted to apprehend the suspects, but they sped off. Authorities reported that the couple led them on a high-speed chase down the wrong side of the road.

In the middle of the pursuit, the suspects ditched their vehicle and carjacked another car.

"The Nissan Rogue passengers stopped in front of a vehicle and made an oncoming vehicle stop," said the police report. "The passengers exited the vehicle and assaulted the driver of the other vehicle and pulled the driver out of the car. The two suspects got into the vehicle and drove away."

The couple drove through several cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area before heading north to Payson and Happy Jack.

The suspects continued driving on the wrong side of the highway and eventually collided with another vehicle. At that point, the couple attempted to ditch their vehicle and carjack another driver, but they were unsuccessful.

The "Department of Public Safety helicopter landed and took the suspects into custody in Happy Jack," according to the police report.

During an interview with law enforcement, Jaquez admitted to carjacking an individual with his girlfriend. He told authorities that he led a chase through several cities before driving to the woods. Jacquez also identified himself in the photos from the hotel where the robbery occurred.

Jacquez and Hulsey are accused of assault, robbery, theft, and kidnapping.