A Wichita man held a jewelry store owner at gunpoint, wrestled him in a violent struggle, and fled after shots rang out — one of two robberies for which 25-year-old Terence L. Thomas now faces federal time. On Monday, Thomas pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during the robbery of Kim Chee Jewelry and to the separate armed robbery of Fidelity Bank, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall announced.
The assault at Kim Chee Jewelry unfolded at 2038 N. Broadway as the owner and his wife arrived for work. Thomas, armed with a knife, confronted the owner, who drew a handgun in self-defense. The two men grappled, gunfire erupted, and Thomas disarmed the victim. He forced the owner to unlock the store, then attempted to drag the woman inside. She collapsed, feigning a heart attack, buying critical seconds. The owner locked Thomas out — and he fled.
A witness snapped photos of Thomas’ getaway vehicle, providing the break police needed. Investigators with the Wichita Police Department and FBI used the images to track and arrest Thomas. Evidence tied him not only to the jewelry store attack but also to an earlier heist at Fidelity Bank, located at 3525 E. Harry.
In that robbery, one month prior, Thomas walked in, told a teller “This is a robbery,” and began counting down from twenty. As cash was stuffed into his bag, he maintained a cold, methodical pace. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. No physical violence occurred, but the threat was unmistakable — and federal.
Thomas now faces the full weight of federal sentencing. He is set to be sentenced on April 19. On the bank robbery charge, he could receive up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, he faces a mandatory minimum of seven years — to be served consecutively — plus another $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall praised the joint investigation, citing the work of the Wichita Police Department, the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart, who prosecuted the case. Thomas’ guilty plea avoids trial but delivers no leniency in the eyes of the law — only the certainty of federal prison time for a crime spree that terrorized two businesses and left a community on edge.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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