WICHITA – A second defendant pleaded guilty Wednesday to an armed robbery at a convenience store in Newton, Stephen McAllister said.
Rico Montes, 28, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. In his plea, Montes admitted he and co-defendant Jorge Correa, 25, Wichita, robbed the EZ Trip at 100 S. Main in Newton, Kan., while another man waited in the car. Montes and Correa were armed when they entered the store.
Montes is set for sentencing Dec. 16. He could face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Correa pleaded guilty last week and is set for sentencing Dec. 8. He admitted firing several shots during the robbery. No one was injured. A third defendant, Jeremiah Urias, 18, Wichita, who is alleged to have driven the getaway car, is set for a change of plea hearing Oct. 13.
WICHITA, KAN. – Federal charges were filed Friday against three Kansas men in connection with an armed robbery at a convenience store in Newton that ended with a chase and crash in Salina, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Jeremiah Urias, 18; Rico Montes, 27, and Jorge Correa, 25, all of Wichita, were charged with committing a robbery Feb. 4 at EZ Trip, 100 S. Main in Newton.
A criminal complaint filed in the case alleges two robbers entered the store before 6 a.m. One of the robbers in a red hoodie pointed a handgun at a clerk and demanded money, which the clerk gave him. Then a second robber carrying a military style rifle demanded more money. While waiting for the money, the second robber walked around the store firing shots into the ceiling and into an ATM.
Investigators used surveillance footage to identify a license tag number of the getaway vehicle. After a high speed pursuit, the Kansas Highway Patrol arrested the three defendants. Urias was driving. Montes was wearing a red hoodie and sitting in the front passenger seat. Correa was sitting in the back seat with a rifle.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000