Kansas City Man Indicted on Federal Armed Robbery Charges

KANSAS CITY, KS—A Kansas City man has been indicted on federal charges alleging he committed a string of armed robberies, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Clifford L. Miller, 48, Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted Wednesday on one count of bank robbery, 10 counts of commercial robbery, and 10 counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.

The indictment alleges Miller committed the following robberies:

• June 10, 2013, Capital City Bank, 120 SW 6th Street in Topeka, Kansas
• June 21, 2013, Cirilla’s store, 7258 State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas
• June 21, 2013, Family Dollar at 1274 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kansas
• June 22, 2013, Dollar General, 2852 W. 47th, Kansas City, Kansas
• June 30, 2013, Family Dollar, 1402 S. 42nd, Kansas City, Kansas
• July 1, 2013, Dollar General, 2018 Metropolitan in Kansas City, Kansas
• July 3, 2013, Cirilla’s, 4301 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas
• July 24, 3013, Advance America, 4625 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, Kansas
• August 4, 2013, GameStop, 9672 Quivira Road in Lenexa, Kansas
• August 12, 2013, Dollar General, 2852 W. 47th in Kansas City, Kansas
• September 21, 2013, Cirilla’s, 7258 State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each robbery count and a penalty of not less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on each charge of brandishing a firearm. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department; the Lenexa Police Department; the Topeka Police Department; the Raytown, Missouri Police Department; and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Other Indictments

Ronnell Smith, Sr., 40, Oakland, California, is charged with one count of distributing cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred June 26, 2012, in Kansas City, Kansas, and Oakland, California.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $5 million. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.

Damon Douglas Griffin, 37, is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred January 7, 2014, in Lawrence, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the methamphetamine charge, not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated.

Erica Barajas-Duran, 39, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. She was found February 12, 2014, in Overland Park, Kansas.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Felix M. Leal, 40, Leavenworth, Kansas, is charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2013 and 2014 in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

• Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.
• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Angel Guzman-Aviles, 26, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred February 3, 2014, in Kansas City, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Travis W. Edwards, 35, Wichita, Kansas, and Michael J. Strotkamp, 36, Peabody, Kansas, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Edwards also is charged with an additional count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred February 11 and 12, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million on each count. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

Carl M. Bray, 28, Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred November 26, 2013, in Kansas City, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Durayle D. Jackson, 24, Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred January 22, 2014, in Kansas City, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Jemel T. Knox, 30, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun. The crimes are alleged to have occurred February 6, 2014, in Kansas City, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.