Kavonte Knolton, Armed Robbery, Ohio 2023

DAYTON, Ohio – A string of convenience store armed robberies in the Miami Valley has come to an end with the indictment and arrest of two Dayton men.

Kavonte Knolton, 21, and Jamaal Murphy, 19, both of Dayton, are charged with committing a total of five armed robberies dating back to December 2019. The charges were outlined in an 11-count indictment returned on June 23.

The indictment alleges that Murphy robbed the Wyoming Mini-Mart in December 2019 and that Knolton robbed a UDF on Woodman Avenue twice, once on January 25 and again on February 14. The indictment accuses both men of robbing a Circle K on Dorothy Lane on February 22 and the Wyoming Mini-Mart again on March 5.

According to the indictment, the men used, carried or brandished firearms in each of the robberies. They have been charged with one count of conspiracy and five counts of violating the Hobbs Act, a federal law that punishes people who commit crimes involving businesses that operate in interstate commerce.

The indictment also charges the men with five counts of using, carrying or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Each of those counts is punishable by a mandatory term of seven years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any sentence for the robberies.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jonathan McPherson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Dayton Police Chief Rick Biehl announced the indictment. Assistant United States Attorney Brent Tabacchi and Deputy Criminal Chief Dominick Gerace are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Kavonte Knolton and Jamaal Murphy were arrested on June 29 by Dayton Police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

According to the indictment, each of the five counts of violating the Hobbs Act is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The five counts of using, carrying or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence are punishable by a mandatory term of seven years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any sentence for the robberies.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/two-dayton-men-indicted-arrested-string-convenience-store-armed-robberies