Two Local People Charged in Connection with Dunbar Armored Truck Robbery

St. Louis, MO – Charles Johnson and Shayne Kier Jones were charged in a criminal complaint for the April 4 armed robbery of a Dunbar Armored truck.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, on April 4, 2016, Charles Johnson and Shayne Kier Jones robbed Dunbar Armored Company shortly after a money pickup from the Parking Division of the City of St. Louis.  The money was taken from a Dunbar Armored employee at gun point.  Jones was employed by Dunbar, and that day his duty was to exit the armored truck to do the pickup and delivery of U.S. currency.  A second employee (CT) was assigned as the driver.  At the end of the day’s route CT was told by Jones that he, Jones, would drive the armored truck back to Dunbar.  Jones then decided to stop for gas.  After getting the gas, Jones acted like he was lost and stopped the truck at Antelope and Switzer in the City of St. Louis. He got out of the truck and two individuals with guns rushed him and demanded the money in the truck.  As threats of violence were being made, Jones began to throw the money bags out the back door to Johnson and another man (JB).  CT said that there was a white Buick vehicle right next to the armored car.  CT and Jones then drove the truck from the scene of the armed robbery.

Both CT and Jones were interviewed as victims by law enforcement that night.  On April 7, Jones was interviewed by employees of Dunbar again, denying any involvement in the robbery.  He then changed his story and told them that he committed the robbery as he was threatened by unknown people.

On April 14, the owner of the white vehicle, JB, which was used in the robbery, was interviewed and finally admitted his involvement in the robbery.  He told law enforcement that Johnson contacted him with the concept of the robbery.  Johnson told JB that he had a cousin who worked for the armored truck company and was willing to help in the robbery.  JB’s role was to be the driver of the getaway car, the white car.  Johnson provided the Dunbar shirts used in the robbery, skull caps and sunglasses.  On April 4, JB and Johnson drove to the site they had picked out for the robbery.  Jones drove the armored truck to that location, got out of the truck, which allowed JB and Johnson to approach and demand money.  JB did not know that Jones was the inside employee until he saw him outside the truck.  JB realized that he had seen Jones as a customer at JB’s work.  Johnson also worked at the same place.  After the robbery, JB and Johnson drove the white car loaded with the stolen money to JB’s residence where the money was transferred to another car.  They then drove to JB’s mother’s house and divided the stolen money into three shares.  As Jones was still being interviewed by law enforcement, Johnson took two shares of the stolen money and left.

Johnson and Jones, both of St. Louis City, were each charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats of violence, a violation of Title 18:1951 and 2.

If convicted, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats of violence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.      

As is always the case, charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.