Two KC Men Indicted for Bank Robbery Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Missouri, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to rob two banks.

Desmand W. McDaniel, 27, and Joshua J. Parker, 28, were charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, May 27. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against McDaniel and Parker on March 12, 2020.

The federal indictment alleges that McDaniel and Parker participated in a conspiracy to commit bank robberies from Feb. 3 to March 11, 2020. The indictment also charges McDaniel and Parker together in two counts of bank robbery. 

McDaniel and Parker allegedly stole $11,026 from First Federal Bank of Kansas City, 9330 E. Gregory Boulevard, Raytown, Missouri, on Feb. 22, 2020. 

McDaniel and Parker allegedly stole $10,085 from First Federal Bank of Kansas City, 3500 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri, on March 11, 2020. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, each of the men approached a teller station and demanded cash. McDaniel allegedly approached a teller and demanded, “Give me all of your money.” The teller said she was afraid and complied with his demands; she told investigators he was “aggressive” and told her to “hurry up.” Parker allegedly approached another teller and told her to “hand over the money.” He held his hand in his pocket, which made her believe he may have a gun. She turned over the money from her teller drawer. McDaniel and Parker then ran out of the bank.

An eyewitness at the intersection of 35th Street and Noland Road noticed McDaniel and Parker run out of First Federal Bank, dropping money while they ran, and believed the bank was being robbed. The eyewitness saw them get into a black GMC SUV; the eyewitness started following them and called 911 to report the suspicious activity. McDaniel, who was driving the vehicle, led police officers on a high-speed pursuit through Independence, Raytown, Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kansas. Multiple police agencies became involved, including a Kansas City, Mo., police helicopter. McDaniel and Parker traveled in excess of 100 miles per hour, weaving into oncoming traffic. Their vehicle died near the 7-Eleven convenience store at the intersection of 95th Street and Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas. McDaniel and Parker fled from the vehicle but were apprehended and arrested after a foot chase.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Morgan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department, the Raytown, Mo., Police Department, and the Grandview, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.