Convicted: Kansas City Man in 27-Armed Robbery Spree
Kansas City, MO – A Kansas City man was convicted of his role in a three-months-long armed robbery conspiracy that included at least 27 robberies, culminating in the fatal shooting of a suspect by law enforcement officers.
Shannon R. Thomas, 28, was found guilty of participating in the conspiracy and 10 armed robberies. He was also found guilty of 10 counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 years in federal prison without parole.
The robberies occurred between Jan. 2 and March 24, 2016, in Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan. Victim businesses included convenience stores, pharmacies, and other businesses.
The spree of robberies culminated on March 24, 2016, with the armed robbery of a Walgreens in Blue Springs, Mo. Thomas placed a Springfield Armory .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol to the back of an employee’s head and took money from the front register.
Co-conspirator Deonte J. Collins-Abbott pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole. Collins-Abbott admitted to committing eight armed robberies between Feb. 3, 2016, and March 24, 2016.
Co-defendants Kevin T. Thompson-Randell, Demetrius Nelson, Parrise K. Black, and Frank A. Garner, Jr., all pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
Thomas is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole for participating in the conspiracy and up to 20 years for each of the 10 armed robberies. He is also subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years for each of the 10 counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which must be served consecutively.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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