A Bethany, Missouri man will serve 16 years in federal prison for his role in a string of armed robberies at grocery stores.

U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner sentenced 32-year-old Jeremiah Kraushaar on Monday.

Kraushaar pleaded guilty last October to participating in a conspiracy to commit the robberies.

He was arrested largely due to a tip via the TIPS Hotline.

 

Kraushaar admitted that he and co-conspirators robbed five grocery stores, including Thriftway Store, 1616 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 13, 2010; Cosentino’s Apple Market, 7506 Raytown Rd., Raytown, Mo., on Oct. 3, 2010; Hy-Vee Store, 1104 S. 25th St., Bethany, Mo., on Oct. 14, 2010; Patricia’s Food Store, 1212 W. 40 Hwy., Odessa, Mo., on Oct. 22, 2010; and Apple Market Grocery Store, 1215 E. Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 2, 2010.

During each robbery, grocery store employees were held at gunpoint and their hands were bound with plastic zip-tie restraints. Kraushaar also pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Co-defendant Finis Richardson, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Sept. 7, 2011, to five years and three months in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Javon Turner, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2012, and awaits sentencing.

According to court documents, multiple law enforcement agencies were investigating a series of grocery store robberies across northwest Missouri. Certain common characteristics of the robberies were captured by surveillance cameras.

The robbers entered each store in the early morning when employees were opening the business, forcibly restraining employees with zip-ties, and using walkie-talkies and cellular phones during the robberies.

After law enforcement released footage from the surveillance video, an anonymous tip was made to the TIPS hot line. The defendants were arrested following a high-speed pursuit on Dec. 19, 2010.