Three Missouri Residents Facing Federal Indictments Following Series Of Armed Robberies

Two Columbia residents and a Kansas City, Missouri, man face federal indictments by a grand jury in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies over a four-day period across the state.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri identifies 25-year-old Kahvaseon Smith and 26-year-old Janaia Cason…both of Columbia…and 26-year-old Kentrail Collins of Kansas City in the 12-count indictment returned on Tuesday.

It’s alleged that the three committed the armed robberies in Columbia, Boonville, Oak Grove, Joplin and Lamar.

Several agencies were involved in the investigation leading up to the indictments.

Full report:

Two Columbia, Mo., residents and a Kansas City, Mo., man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies across the state over a four-day period.

Kahvaseon Z. Smith, 25, and Janaia R. Cason, 26, both of Columbia, and Kentrail M. Collins, 26, of Kansas City, were charged in a 12-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The federal indictment alleges that Smith, Cason, and Collins participated in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies from Jan. 5, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2023. In addition to the conspiracy, they are each charged together in five counts of robbery and five counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The indictment alleges that Smith, Cason, and Collins committed five armed robberies:

• Petromart at 1004 N. Stadium, Columbia, Mo., on Jan. 5, 2023;
• Breaktime at 2241 Pioneer St., Boonville, Mo., on Jan. 5, 2023;
• Casey’s at 807 S. Broadway, Oak Grove, Mo., on Jan. 5, 2023;
• Casey’s at 5869 N. Main, Joplin, Mo., on Jan. 8, 2023;
• Lamarti’s Truck Stop at 71 US 160, Lamar, Mo., on Jan. 8, 2023.

Collins is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Collins allegedly possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol on Jan. 9, 2023. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Collins has felony convictions for burglary, robbery and resisting arrest.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by the FBI, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Boonville, Mo., Police Department, the Oak Grove, Mo., Police Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Barton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.