Two Plead Guilty to Armed Robberies in the Kansas City Area

Two Kansas City men have pleaded guilty to a series of armed robberies.

The United States Attorney's Office says 38-year-old Roy L. House, Jr. and 39-year-old Curlie Pruitt, III both pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit robbery and to brandishing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

House and Pruitt admitted they participated in a conspiracy to rob four businesses at gunpoint in December 2016, and used a 45-caliber semi-automatic handgun during those robberies.

Under federal statutes, House and Pruitt are each subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole.

News release from the United States Attorney's Office

Two Kansas City, Mo., men have pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of armed robberies following their arrests after a head-on collision with a police vehicle in a Quik Trip parking lot.

Roy L. House, Jr., 38, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to conspiracy to commit robbery and to brandishing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Co-defendant Curlie Pruitt, III, 39, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to the same charges on Feb. 22, 2018.

House and Pruitt both admitted they participated in a conspiracy to rob four businesses at gunpoint in December 2016. They stole $500 and at least one carton of cigars (as well as $150 from an employee) from Road Star Gas Station, 11100 E. US 40 Hwy., Independence, Mo. They stole $200 and an undetermined amount of cigars (as well as an employee’s wallet) from Beeline Mini-Mart, 1005 Isley Blvd., Excelsior Springs, Mo. They stole $300 (as well as $200 from an employee) from Discount Smokes, 4718 N.E. Vivion Rd., Kansas City, Mo. They also robbed the Phillips 66 Gas Station at 3636 Randolph Road, Randolph, Mo.

House and Pruitt also admitted they used an American Tactical .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun during those robberies.

House and Pruitt were arrested on Dec. 20, 2016. Independence police officers were contacted by an employee at the Super 8 Hotel, 4031 S. Lynn Court Drive, in regard to two men – later identified as Pruitt and House – who were acting suspiciously. The employee feared the men were going to rob the hotel. They left the hotel but returned at approximately 9:05 p.m.

When officers arrived at the hotel, House and Pruitt were in a blue Ford 500 and were leaving the area, with Pruitt driving. A police officer activated the emergency equipment on his patrol vehicle to initiate a traffic stop, however, Pruitt accelerated the vehicle and drove through the parking lot of the Quik Trip at 4024 S. Noland Road. As Pruitt’s vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the parking lot, traveling toward S. Noland Road, it collided head-on with the patrol vehicle of another officer who was responding to assist. The collision was severe enough to disable both vehicles.

Pruitt immediately attempted to exit his vehicle and flee, but was trapped by a third police vehicle that pinned the driver’s side door closed. Pruitt and House were placed under arrest. Officers found the loaded American Tactical .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun on the floor board of the front passenger seat area.

Under federal statutes, House and Pruitt are each subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Excelsior Springs, Mo., Police Department.