ST. LOUIS – An Illinois man appeared in federal court last week and admitted robbing a St. Louis 7-Eleven at gunpoint in 2023.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Payton Robert Yates, 23, robbed a 7-Eleven store in the 5300 block of Chippewa Street on June 30.
Yates told the court he walked into the store, took a bag of Hot Fries to the counter, then took out a handgun and told the cashier to empty the register. The store clerk complied and Yates left with the bag of Hot Fries and $134.77.
Prosecutors said Yates drove away in a blue Toyota Tundra. Yates’ father had reported the vehicle stolen a few days prior to the robbery, along with the handgun. Yates said he pawned the gun two days after the crime.
Yates pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of possession of and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Yates will be sentenced on June 4. Both the prosecution and defense recommend a 9-year term in federal prison.