KC Man Terry Rayford Charged with Illegal Firearm after Jimmy John’s Robbery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The grimy streets of Kansas City saw a chilling act of violence when Terry K. Rayford, 54, was charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of a firearm following an armed heist at a local Jimmy John’s restaurant.

Rayford allegedly brandished Witness-P .45-caliber and Jimenez 9mm semi-automatic handguns during the brazen robbery on April 27, 2017. His downfall came hours later when Independence, Mo., police pulled him over, leading to the recovery of the firearms from his vehicle.

An affidavit reveals that a retired Kansas City Police Department major spotted Rayford in the vicinity of the crime scene, prompting the stop. Upon searching Rayford’s car, officers found the guns hidden in plain sight – one on the floorboard and another in the passenger seat’s pouch.

Rayford confessed to investigators that he had stolen both handguns from his supplier for crack cocaine to settle a debt. Federal law bars anyone with a felony conviction, like Rayford’s numerous first-degree armed robbery convictions, from possessing firearms or ammunition.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tom Larson, emphasized that the charges are merely accusations and not proof of guilt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford is handling the prosecution, with investigations led by the Kansas City and Independence police departments, as well as the ATF.

As grim tales of crime persist in Kansas City, Rayford’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by felons wielding illegal firearms.