Grandview Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery Conspiracy

A man from Grandview, MO recently pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a three-months-long conspiracy that included at least 27 armed robberies.

The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri says the conspiracy culminated in the armed robbery of a Walgreens in Blue Springs, MO, in which one of the suspects was fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

23-year old Deonte J. Collins-Abbott pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit robbery and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

By pleading guilty, Collins-Abbott admitted that he committed eight armed robberies between February 3 and March 24, 2016. Collins-Abbott admitted that he and co-conspirators robbed businesses in Blue Springs, Independence, North Kansas City, Raytown, Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., at gunpoint.

Collins-Abbott reportedly admitted that he and two other men robbed the Walgreens at 9th and Duncan in Blue Springs on March 24, 2016.

According to court documents, once inside, one of the robbers placed a firearm to the back of an employee’s head and took money from the front register. Collins-Abbott and Jermon Seals, of Shawnee, Kan., went over the pharmacy counter and took prescription grade cough syrup at gunpoint from the pharmacist. They left the business but were confronted by law enforcement officers as they were walking back to the vehicle.

They failed to comply with the officers’ commands, according to the court documents, and Seals turned towards the officers, pointing a gun in their direction. Officers returned fire and Seals was struck in the exchange. Collins-Abbott and Thomas were apprehended by officers after a short foot pursuit.

Co-defendants, 25-year old Demetrius Nelson, of Kansas City, Mo., and 26-year old Parrise K. Black (aka Kilo), of Grandview, have also pleaded guilty.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Collins-Abbott will be sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole.