Kelton Snyder, Murder and Hobbs Act Robbery, Illinois 2015

Grimy Times Exclusive: Murder and Hobbs Act Robbery Charges Hit Decatur Man

Kelton Snyder, 23, of Decatur, Illinois, has been indicted on charges of murder and Hobbs Act robbery in connection with the April 3, 2015 armed robbery of the Circle K convenience store and the April 5, 2015 murder of Paige Mars, also of Decatur.

The indictment alleges that Snyder conspired to commit the armed robbery, obtained and possessed firearms, and used masks and firearms to commit the robbery on April 3. On or about April 5, conspirators met to discuss the possibility that Mars may alert law enforcement about the robbery and on April 5, conspirators killed Mars.

Mars served as the driver while Snyder and his co-conspirator, Matthew Vogt, committed the robbery of the Circle K. Snyder was previously charged in Macon County and is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Boyle and Jason Bohm. The Decatur Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis and Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott announced the federal indictment.

According to the indictment, the penalty for use of a firearm resulting in murder is life in prison unless the U.S. Attorney General directs the U.S. Attorney to seek the death penalty, in which case the maximum statutory penalty for the murder is death. Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life, to be served consecutive to any term of imprisonment ordered for the underlying crime of violence.

The statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and commission of the Hobbs Act offense is up to 20 years in prison for each charge. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Kelton Snyder, 23, of Decatur, Illinois, is charged with:

Conspiring to commit the armed robbery in interference with commerce, known as the Hobbs Act
Commission of the robbery in interference with commerce, known as the Hobbs Act
Murder
Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
Possession of a firearm by a felon

Kelton Snyder will be arraigned in federal court in Urbana on a date to be determined by the U.S. Clerk of the Court.

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