A Towanda man is headed to federal prison after brandishing a loaded .380 caliber handgun during a daylight robbery at an Advance America location in Arkansas City, Kansas. Jason A. Farner, 32, was sentenced Thursday to seven years behind bars, marking the end of a case that unfolded within hours of the crime.
Farner admitted in court to pointing the firearm at employees during the February 11, 2016, heist, terrifying staff before fleeing with an undisclosed sum of cash. Surveillance footage from inside the store captured the moment Farner drew the weapon, a detail that would later prove pivotal in securing his guilty plea to one count of brandishing a firearm during a commercial robbery.
Investigators moved fast. Later that same day, a deputy with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office pulled Farner over for a routine traffic violation. During the stop, authorities connected him to the robbery through physical evidence and witness statements, leading to his immediate arrest.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the investigation, tracing the firearm and corroborating the timeline of events. Their collaboration with local law enforcement tightened the case against Farner, leaving little room for dispute when he faced federal charges.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, who oversaw the prosecution, praised the swift coordination between agencies. ‘This was a brazen attack on a local business, armed and dangerous,’ Beall said. ‘The response was immediate, and justice was delivered.’
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger handled the case in court, securing the seven-year sentence without the need for trial. Farner will serve the full term under federal supervision, with no eligibility for parole. The message is clear: pull a gun during a robbery in Kansas, and the feds will come fast—and stay long.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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