Life sentence for murder of would-be online bike seller

GRETNA, La. (AP) — A man convicted of gunning down a victim who was lured to a New Orleans-area apartment in hopes of selling a dirt bike has been sentenced to life in prison.

WWL-TV reports that Jalen Harvey was sentenced Thursday. He had been convicted of first-degree murder in September for the 2021 shooting death of 29-year-old Joseph Vindel.

Authorities said Vindel had offered his dirt bike for sale on an online marketplace. He towed the bike to a parking lot in Jefferson Parish after Harvey responded to the post. Prosecutors said Harvey intended to rob Vindel, who was still in his vehicle when Harvey shot him.

Harvey then used Vindel’s vehicle to drive the body back to New Orleans before abandoning it.

Thursday’s sentencing hearing included statements from Vindel’s parents.

“There is no helping me,” Vindel’s father, Lindsey Vindel, said. “I’m 70 years old, I don’t have a lot of time left, it’s not a bad thing now.”

The Vindel case led the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to establish public spaces where people can meet to safely complete sales arranged online.