TOPEKA, KAN. – A brazen robbery spree that left business owners shaken has come to an end for one Topeka man.
Christopher James Wilhoite, 26, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for committing robberies at businesses in Topeka and Manhattan, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
The crimes, which took place in March and April 2014, were carried out with a sense of urgency and a hint of recklessness.
On March 29, 2014, Wilhoite entered Car Toyz, a mobile audio, video, and vehicle security systems store at 5849 S.W. 21st in Topeka. He browsed for a few minutes before telling the clerk, “I know what I want – the money.”
Wilhoite then made off with cash from the register and the clerk’s wallet, as well as several electronic items. But he didn’t leave empty-handed. He forced the clerk to show him the surveillance camera and threw that in the bag, too, before fleeing the store.
Investigators later found Wilhoite’s fingerprints at the scene, leading them to his door.
Wilhoite also admitted to robbing the Dollar General at 2321 Tuttle Creek Boulevard in Manhattan on April 16, 2014. He pointed a gun at a clerk and said, “Hey, I need money.”
He then put the clerk and another employee in a bathroom at gunpoint and told them to count to 200 while he fled the store.
U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the Riley County Police Department, the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Wilhoite pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a robbery.
The case serves as a reminder that crime doesn’t pay, and the consequences can be severe.
Defendant: Christopher James Wilhoite
Criminal Charges: Two counts of commercial robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a robbery
City and State: Topeka, Kansas
Exact Date: March 29, 2014 (first crime), April 16, 2014 (second crime), and Friday (sentencing date not specified)
Sentence or Outcome: 12 years in federal prison
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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