Runescape Robber Faces Years of Jail Time
Is 15 years worth of jail time worth a few Runescape coins?
How much is a Runescape account worth?
Up to fifteen years of jail time, apparently, for 19-year-old Humza Bajwa of Massachusetts. Bajwa is being charged of second-degree robbery and grand larceny after pulling a BB gun at a Runescape coin for real money exchange.
Bajwa cut a deal with another Runescape player Jonathan Dokler to exchange 4.7 billion Runescape coins for $3,300. Dokler asked his friend David Emani to conduct the deal in person. Emani wanted to back out due to suspicions that Bajwa was carrying fake currency. "He was transferring money from one envelope to another envelope, and I got a glimpse of it and it looked fake," said Emani. "I was on the phone with John, and I said, 'Don't do it. It looks fake.'"
Despite Emani's reluctance, Dokler decided to go through with the deal. When Emani met with Bajwa again the next day, his suspicions were confirmed: Bajwa was carrying counterfeits hidden under a real $100 bill. When Emani protested, Bajwa pulled a BB gun and pointed it at Emani's head. Emani, not knowing that the gun wasn't real, completed the transaction.
Fortunately, Bajwa was caught on CCTV and was arrested. If Bajwa is charged of grand larceny and second-degree robbery, he faces up to 15 years of jail time… just over virtual currency.
Runescape developer Jagex prohibits the exchange of the game's virtual currency for real money. Unfortunately, there's just no feasible way for the developer to enforce the policy, though this story is sure to make a few Runescape players at least think twice before selling off in-game coins.

You probably wouldn't know it was a BB gun in that moment either, so would you risk it?
Either way he should get 1 year jail and 4 years community service and have his runescape account deleted.
I wouldn't say Runescape currency isn't worth real life money too, if there is supply and demand for something I would consider it valuable.
ummm the currency was virtual...but the crime sure wasn't
a BB gun at close range can cause a lot of damage, if you got hit in the eye you'd lose it for sure.
I knew someone back in elementary school who got shot in the leg with one and had to have it surgically removed.
One should trust their instincts as who knows it could have been a life or death.
As stated-- in literally every state -- using a BB gun / replica in any crime is the same as using a real gun and carries the same penalties... felony charges and lost of civil rights for him. Figures.
Alot of quality BB guns (60-100 dollar range) ones are modeled after real guns. Which means if you removed the orange plastic end it will look exactly like a real gun, which is why (at least where I live) if you do remove the orange tip you can be arrested for possession of a weapon.
Whoever post another racist/stereotype comment will face very severe consequences.
BB guns can be lethal (especially in short range) and as others have stated, they can be more or less identical to *real* guns. If it was an air-soft gun that shoots small plastic pellets, then you'd have a better argument, but even then, it could still resemble a real gun. Would you want to take the chance when you stare down the barrel?
+10000
Agree. I can say right now that my dad has a BB gun that look exactly like U.S. Military Gun (Not a big gun person so I cant say for sure what it truly a replica of, but i think it's the M14 or M16).
So if I had my dad BB gun at your head WITHOUT KNOWING that it is one, Wouldn't you be scared?
In a situation like that, if there something that looks like it could take could take your life, you dont gamble it to see what the weapon is. Just follow what that person want and contact the police after that moment and let them deal with the issue.
If a BB gun is pointed out your head, and I am assuming it was at close range, it can still do bodily harm. Case in point was a friend of mine who now has a glass eye because someone did the same thing to him, although not maliciously and no harm was intended, stupid yes; but was an accident. So I leaned that whole shot your eye saying actually had some truth to it. Would this of happened to Emani? Who knows and like others of said in the moment you may not realize it was a BB gun and if you did it can still cause pain.