A masked gunman walked into the Carson Bank on East Douglas in Wichita and flashed a firearm, sending tellers scrambling as cash was stuffed into bags. Andre Bryant, 30, of Wichita, Kan., wasn’t the one pointing the gun—but he was deep in the scheme. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a violent crime, admitting his role in the June 13, 2016, heist.
Two men, faces disguised, stormed the bank at 4461 E. Douglas. One produced a firearm, clear and threatening, while the other gathered cash. They didn’t linger. But the money they took carried a hidden tracker—a GPS device planted by bank security. Within hours, law enforcement traced the stolen cash straight to Bryant and his accomplices.
Bryant admitted in federal court that he was part of the coordinated robbery, providing support and cover during the crime. Though he didn’t pull the trigger or wave the gun, under federal law, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in a violent crime carries the same weight. Prosecutors say he helped plan the robbery, scout the location, and coordinate the getaway.
Now, he’s facing the consequences. Both the defense and prosecution have agreed to recommend an 84-month sentence—seven years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10. The deal reflects cooperation or plea bargaining terms, though court records don’t specify the full conditions.
Two co-defendants, Raishat Magill and Elijah Shelton, remain in the crosshairs of justice. They are currently awaiting trial and have not entered pleas. Federal authorities are building a case that ties them directly to the robbery and the armed standoff inside the bank.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall praised the joint investigation, crediting the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for cracking the case. As always, defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. But in this armed robbery, the evidence—including GPS-tagged cash and surveillance footage—tells a damning story.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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