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Press Release

St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Florissant Subway at Gunpoint

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri

St. Louis - Alonzo Lamar Payne, 37, of St. Louis, entered guilty pleas today to one count of Interference With Interstate Commerce by Means of Robbery and one count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. 

According to court documents, on December 21, 2018, Payne entered a Subway restaurant in Grandview Plaza in the City of Florissant with his face partially concealed.  After asking employees to direct him to the restroom, Payne instead entered an “Employees Only” area and demanded cash while brandishing a handgun.

Following the robbery, Payne fled from the Subway with an undetermined amount of money.  Employees called 911.  Florissant Police responded.  Investigation into the crime quickly identified the robber as Payne who was the boyfriend of a former Subway employee.

On December 27, 2018, Florissant Police observed Payne leaving his girlfriend’s residence.  He got into a car and began to drive away.  Florissant officers stopped the vehicle and ordered Payne to show his hands.  After refusing multiple orders, Payne was removed from the vehicle and discovered to be sitting on a handgun.  Payne, who is on parole to the State of Missouri for a prior Robbery conviction, is prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Payne subsequently confessed to robbing the Subway on December 21, 2018.  Payne also admitted that he returned to the same Subway two days later and burglarized it.

Payne is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4th, 2019.  He faces up to 20 years on the robbery charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least seven years on the firearm charge, which must be imposed consecutively to the robbery sentence. 

United States Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen praised the work of the Florissant Police Department, stating, “Alonzo Payne victimized two teenage-employees.  The Florissant Police Department worked tirelessly to swiftly arrest Payne and prevent him from victimizing others in our community.”  Florissant Police Chief Tim Fagan echoed Jensen’s sentiments, saying “We are proud of our Department’s work and appreciate the assistance of our Federal partners in addressing any dangerous, repeat offender who preys on the citizens of Florissant.”

This case was investigated by the Florissant Police Department.

Updated July 8, 2019

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime