Two armed men walked into the Carson Bank on East Douglas in broad daylight, one waving a firearm in the air while customers froze in place. That day, June 13, 2016, wasn’t just a robbery—it was a calculated act of terror. Now, nearly eight years later, justice is closing in. Raishat McGill, 35, and Elijah Shelton, 25, both of Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, admitting their roles in the violent heist.
The duo didn’t act alone. Two suspects, disguised and armed, stormed the bank at 4461 E. Douglas. Surveillance footage later showed one of them—believed to be McGill—waving the gun while Shelton moved toward the tellers, demanding cash. Within minutes, they grabbed the money and vanished. But the bank had a failsafe: a hidden GPS tracker planted in the stolen cash. That device led law enforcement straight to the defendants, sealing their fate.
McGill and Shelton each face 84 months in federal prison, a sentence both parties have agreed to recommend at sentencing, scheduled for April 13. The plea deal strips away any illusion of a trial, leaving no room for denial. They admitted to aiding and abetting each other, with one actively brandishing the firearm during the commission of the robbery—a charge that carries severe federal penalties under the law.
They aren’t the only ones paying the price. Andre Bryant, 30, also of Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty earlier this month to the same charge. Bryant’s sentencing is set for April 10, just days before his co-defendants face the judge. Federal prosecutors are treating this case like a chain—pull one link, and the rest come crashing down.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall made no apologies for the takedown. “Robbing a bank with a gun isn’t just theft—it’s violence on the public,” Beall said. He credited the relentless work of the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI for cracking the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith handled the prosecution, ensuring every legal nail was hammered into place.
This case is a reminder: in Wichita, even a well-planned heist doesn’t stay hidden forever. The GPS tracker in the stolen cash didn’t just lead to an arrest—it became a ticking clock. Now, McGill, Shelton, and Bryant will trade their freedom for federal time, one guilty plea at a time.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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