KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Kansas City, Mo., men have been charged in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to commit 10 armed robberies at local businesses.
Jerry D. Patterson, 21, and Michael A. Harris, 19, both of Kansas City, were charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. That complaint was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Patterson and Harris.
The federal criminal complaint charges Patterson and Harris together in one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, one count of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Patterson and Harris were involved in a conspiracy to commit 10 armed robberies at area businesses over a four-week period in September and October 2017.
On Oct. 15, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $3,500 at gunpoint from Walgreens Pharmacy, 1536 E. 23rd St., Independence, Mo. They drove Patterson’s red 2007 Pontiac G6 sedan, the affidavit says; after officers discovered the vehicle, Patterson and Harrison abandoned it and fled on foot. Investigators searched the vehicle and found a Glock.40-caliber handgun, an extended.40-caliber magazine, money taken from the robbery, and a number of items used in several of the armed robberies. Agents also found a Kahr Arms.40-caliber handgun (seen in several surveillance videos) in a nearby wooded area.
The affidavit also lists a series of armed robberies allegedly committed during the conspiracy. In all of the robberies, says the affidavit, at least one of the defendants displayed a handgun in a threatening manner. The suspects consistently behaved in a violent and aggressive fashion, the affidavit says, pressing a handgun against the stomach or back of business employees and putting an employee on his knees in one of the robberies.
• On Oct. 14, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $4,275 at gunpoint from Walgreens Pharmacy, 9300 Gregory Blvd., Raytown, Mo.;
• On Oct. 14, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $3,000 at gunpoint from CVS Pharmacy, 6244 S. Brookside Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.;
• On Oct. 10, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly robbed Dollar General, 5105 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Mo., at gunpoint;
• On Oct. 9, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $3,705 at gunpoint from Walgreens Pharmacy, 2261 S. Sterling Ave., Independence, Mo.;
• On Oct. 8, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $575 at gunpoint from Domino’s Pizza, 3709 S. Noland Road, Independence, Mo. They also allegedly stole $410 from employees.
• On Oct. 2, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $2,500 from CVS Pharmacy, 5310 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Mo.;
• On Sept. 26, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $380 from Family Dollar, 12521 E. 40 Hwy., Independence, Mo.;
• On Sept. 26, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $150 and some store items at gunpoint from 7 Eleven, 11107 Grandview Rd., Kansas City, Mo.;
• On Sept. 10, 2017, Patterson and Harris allegedly stole $3,500 from Walgreens, 1100 E. 63rd. St., Kansas City, Mo.
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
