The last of four defendants in a violent Hopkins, Minn., tobacco store robbery last year was sentenced last week, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
The armed robbery of U.S. Grocery and Tobacco was an “inside job,” planned and carried out, in part, by Kynesha Jhaunae Jones, 34, who worked at the store. Court documents describe that Jones conspired with Darius Curtis Elam, 30, Ryan Michell Elam, 30, and Katrice Rene Sanders, 32, over a two-week period and provided details of the store layout and how cash was handled.
Sanders helped plan and owned the getaway vehicle used after the robbery, which resulted in a $45,000 total loss to the store.
On Feb. 15, 2024, Darius and Ryan Elam entered the store before 10:00 p.m., both armed with firearms. They bound three employees’ hands to their eyes with duct tape, demanded the code to the safe, and pistol-whipped the manager, according to court documents.
Darius Elam and Ryan Elam, who are cousins, were initially charged in state court before indictments were filed in federal court against the four on charges of Hobbs Act Robbery.
Sanders was sentenced last week to 34 months in federal prison for her role in the crime.
Jones was previously sentenced to 32 months in prison, Darius Elam received a sentence of 112 months, and Ryan Elam was sentenced to 109 months. Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, and all were sentenced by Judge Donovan W. Frank.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Hopkins Police Department.
Note: mugshots were not available for Jones and Sanders.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
