Two Topeka Men Indicted in Robbery, Shooting at Valero
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 17, 2013 |
TOPEKA, KS—Two Topeka men have been indicted on federal charges in connection with the July 28 robbery and shooting at a Valero gas station in Topeka, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor announced today.
Corey Eugene Johnson, 39, Topeka, Kansas, and Shawn Michael Sneed, 20, Topeka, Kansas, are charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during the robbery.
The indictment alleges that on July 28, 2013, Johnson and Sneed robbed the Valero gas station at 1161 S.W. Gage Boulevard in Topeka. It alleges they caused a firearm to be discharged during the robbery.
A 52-year-old Topeka man who has been identified as Salim Salti was shot during the robbery.
“We’re working with the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI and Topeka Police Department’s Violent Crime Task Force in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. “Protecting public safety and prosecuting violent gun crimes are the top priority for us all.”
“I am very pleased with the quality of investigation in this case by both our local law enforcement agencies and the federal task force,” said Chad Taylor, Shawnee County District Attorney. “Once again, this indictment reflects the continued cooperation and commitment by my office and the United States Attorney’s Office. That cooperation allowed us to jointly determine which prosecution jurisdiction would provide the stiffest penalties possible in order to help ensure the safety of this community and make a statement to those who would commit violent crimes.”
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the robbery charge and a penalty of not less than 10 years—consecutive to sentence on the robbery count—and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Topeka Police Department, the FBI, and the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.