TOPEKA, KS—A Topeka man pleaded no contest Monday to federal armed robbery charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Henry Earl Sirvira, 46, Topeka, Kan., entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of commercial robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery. During the plea hearing, prosecutors told the judge that on July 29, 2013, Sirvira and co-defendant Quartez Norwood robbed the EZ Payday Advance at 2613 S.W. 21st Street in Topeka. Sirvira pointed a handgun at an employee and threatened to kill him unless he opened the safe.

On Aug. 3, 2013, Sirvira and Norwood robbed the Family Dollar Store at 2616 S.E. 6th Street in Topeka. Norwood pointed a gun at the clerk while Sirvira assaulted a patron in another part of the store.

Sentencing is set for June 1. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 11 years in federal prison.

Co-defendants include:

• Quartez Norwood, who was sentenced to 180 months.
• Henry Lavelle Davis, who was sentenced to 84 months.
• Robert Wayne Redmond, who was sentenced to 60 months.
• Xavier Leron Sims, who was sentenced to 35 months.

Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.