KC Men Plead Guilty to Armed Robberies; Three Men Face 32 Years in Prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that four Kansas City, Mo., men have pleaded guilty to armed robberies at several local businesses and face lengthy mandatory prison terms for using firearms in violent crimes.

Mohammad S. Rashid, 23, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith to using a firearm during a crime of violence. Co-defendant Terrell E. Lewis, 23, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, to two counts of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Co-defendant Robert L. Smith, 21, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to those charges on July 27, 2011. Ky Lamont Edwards, 20, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2011, in a separate but related case to two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence.

By pleading guilty today, Rashid admitted that he brandished a semi-automatic handgun while participating in the robbery of Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 8952 Skyview Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 3, 2009. Edwards admitted that he carried a Kel-Tec style semi-automatic rifle during the robbery. Edwards held a restaurant manager at gunpoint while she opened the safe so that Lewis could take money from the safe. Cash was also taken from the restaurant's cash registers. Smith drove the get-away car. After fleeing with several thousand dollars, the four men split the proceeds equally.

Under the terms of today's plea agreement, the government will not oppose Rashid's request to be sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

Lewis also admitted that he participated in the robbery of King Chef restaurant, 1660 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, on Oct. 27, 2009. Lewis took cash from the cash register and a business cashbox while his associates held the employees at gunpoint. Smith admitted that he drove the getaway car for the robberies at both restaurants.

Edwards also admitted that he carried a Kel-Tec style semi-automatic rifle to rob the Fast Stop convenience store, 3500 Independence Ave., Kansas City, on Oct. 27, 2009. Edwards held the store's employees at gunpoint while his associates took cash from the registers as well as from the wallet of one of the clerks.

nder federal statutes, Lewis, Smith and Edwards are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in federal prison without parole, up to sentence of life in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.