Kaniya Sloan, 20, Cops Plea in Arch Grounds Robbery Cover-Up

A woman who helped cover up a violent armed robbery on the grounds of the Gateway Arch has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. Kaniya Sloan, 20, of Belleville, Illinois, played a key role in the aftermath of the September 2021 heist that left two victims shaken and robbed at gunpoint near one of America’s most iconic landmarks.

On the evening of September 13, 2021, a juvenile male, accompanied by Sloan and Christopher Franklin, ambushed a man and a woman near the Arch at around 7:30 p.m. The teen brandished a firearm and demanded property. The female victim surrendered her purse. The male handed over his iPhone and wallet under threat. The entire incident unfolded in plain sight, but no bystanders intervened.

Within minutes, Franklin drove the group — including Sloan and the juvenile — across the river to a Walmart in Illinois. There, they dumped stolen electronics into an automated EcoATM kiosk, cashing out before evidence could be traced. The speed and coordination of the getaway suggested prior planning, federal investigators noted.

Two days later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police spotted Franklin’s vehicle downtown and pulled it over. Inside: Sloan, Franklin, the juvenile, a loaded black Glock 19 handgun, and a recovered item from the stolen purse. Surveillance images from the EcoATM transaction were shown to both adults. Both Sloan and Franklin admitted their roles immediately.

Sloan pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to a robbery. Franklin, now 20, of St. Louis County, entered the same plea and was sentenced in October to two years in prison. U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig handed down the same sentence to Sloan during a Tuesday hearing in federal court.

The investigation was a joint effort by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag prosecuted the case, emphasizing that aiding violent criminals — even after the fact — carries serious federal consequences. The juvenile remains in custody under separate proceedings.