KANSAS CITY, MO—Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two Blue Springs, Mo., men and an Independence, Mo., man were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy that included five armed robberies at restaurants and a motel in Lee’s Summit, Independence and Blue Springs.

Isiah G. Etienne, 19, and Mikah M. Labayen, 19, both of Blue Springs, and William H. Parker, III, 20, of Independence, were charged in a 12-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Etienne, Labayen and Parker participated in a conspiracy to obstruct interstate commerce by robbery from Nov. 1 to Dec. 7, 2014. All three defendants are charged with the armed robberies of the Chipotle restaurant at 900 N.E. Columbus St., Lee’s Summit on Nov. 3, 2014; the Chipotle restaurant at 1115 N.E. Coronado Drive, Blue Springs on Nov. 16, 2014; and the Drury Inn, 3830 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 7, 2014. Etienne and Parker are charged with the armed robbery of the Burger King restaurant at 19501 E. 39th St., Independence on Nov. 10, 2014. Labayan is charged with the armed robbery of the same Burger King restaurant on Nov. 30, 2014. The indictment also alleges that Parker asked an employee at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant if he was interested in being the “inside man” in a robbery of that restaurant.

In addition to the conspiracy, Etienne, Labayen and Parker are each charged with three counts of obstructing commerce by robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.

Etienne and Parker are also charged together in an additional count of obstructing commerce by robbery and an additional count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. Labayan is also charged in an additional count of obstructing commerce by robbery and an additional count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. Etienne is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Dickinson cautioned that 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 Charles E. Ambrose, Jr. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.