Serial Armed Robber With History of Violence Sent to Federal Prison for 36 Years

A man who robbed several Siouxland businesses at gunpoint was sentenced today, to 36 years in federal prison.

Kevon Spratt, age 30, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an August 25, 2023, jury verdict finding him guilty of 2 counts of interference with commerce by robbery, 3 counts of use and brandishing of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count of attempted bank robbery, and 1 count of possession of a firearm by a felon.  The jury acquitted Spratt of an additional count of bank robbery and use and brandishing of a fireman.

Evidence in the case revealed that on October 22, 2022, Spratt entered the Sgt. Bluff’s Stop Shell gas station in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, at approximately 7:11 p.m., armed with a handgun that had a distinctive gold barrel and gold ejection port.  Spratt forced the clerk to the register and robbed her before he fled on foot from the scene.  Spratt’s vehicle was seen on several surveillance cameras in the area beginning as early as 5:28pm. 

On October 24, 2022, Spratt entered the Check into Cash, in Sioux City, Iowa, just after 10:00 a.m., armed with the same distinctive handgun, forcing two employees to their registers. Spratt’s vehicle was seen on surveillance footage in the area as early as 7:00 a.m., the same video surveillance also captured his silver and black convertible-top car leaving the scene and crossing the bridge into South Sioux City, Nebraska, as he fled. 

On November 14, 2022, Spratt attempted to enter the Pioneer Bank in Salix, Iowa, as the teller exited the bank just after noon.  Spratt could be seen on surveillance footage circling the bank and town of Salix beginning just after 8:00 a.m.  Spratt was able to make entry into the bank but was unable to get away with any funds because of the actions of the teller.

Additionally, the sentencing court concluded defendant had committed two other armed robberies in the tri-state region. The court found on October 16, 2022, Spratt robbed the Dakota City, Nebraska Food and Fuel at gun point at approximately 8:04 p.m. and on November 11, 2022, Spratt attempted to rob the Conoco gas station in Jefferson, South Dakota, at gunpoint.

In several of these robberies Spratt pointed his weapon at clerks and even pressed his firearm into their bodies.  

Spratt had previously been convicted of many offenses including aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated robbery (where he pressed a toy gun into the head of his victim), and an attempted theft from a person (where he actually used a real gun to rob and carjack his victim), in Cook County, Illinois.           

Spratt was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 432 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $5,304.00 in restitution to two of his victims.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated that, “Due the fine work of local, state, and federal law enforcement, a dangerous individual who preyed upon the businesses of our community was brought to justice. Spratt traumatized his victims by placing them in fear for their lives. For the next three decades, those victims can sleep more soundly knowing he can’t hurt them. This case is a good example of what happens to people who commit violent crimes in the Northern District of Iowa.”

Spratt is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department; the Sergeant Bluff, Iowa Police Department; the Jefferson, South Dakota Police Department; the South Sioux City, Nebraska Police Department; the Woodbury County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department, the Woodbury County Iowa Attorney’s Office; the Monona County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department, the Dakota County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Department, The Iowa Department of Public Safety; Iowa State Patrol; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; the United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, (ATF) and the United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 23-4011.

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