A 26-year-old Kansas City man, Kentrail M. Collins, pleaded guilty in federal court today to his involvement in a string of armed robberies across Missouri. The crime spree, which spanned four days in January 2023, targeted gas stations and convenience stores, leaving a trail of fear and stolen goods in its wake.
Collins admitted to conspiring with others to commit the robberies, personally participating in five armed holdups between January 5th and 8th, 2023. Among the businesses he targeted were a Petromart in Columbia, a Breaktime in Boonville, a Casey’s in Oak Grove, another Casey’s in Joplin, and Lamarti’s Truck Stop in Lamar.
READ: States File Suit In Massachusetts Against Trump Admin Over Birthright Citizenship Executive Order
In addition to the robbery charges, Collins pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during the crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities recovered a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with an extended magazine from Collins. His prior felony convictions for burglary, robbery, and resisting arrest prohibited him from possessing any firearms.
The crime spree came to a dramatic end on January 9th, 2023, when a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull over a black Honda Accord driven by Collins.
After initially stopping, Collins fled, leading the trooper on a high-speed chase reaching 120 mph. The pursuit ended with Collins crashing his vehicle and attempting to escape on foot before being apprehended.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.