Three Charged In Hamilton County Armed Robbery

John Grant Shore, 23, Johnson City, Kan., Kristina Pauline Lashmet, 22, Johnson City, Kan., and Ryan Wesley Swisher, 28, Johnson City, Kan., are charged with one count of robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch.

A criminal complaint filed in federal district court in Wichita alleges that on Feb. 15, 2010, Shore, Lashmet and Swisher robbed the Loves Country Store at 208 E. Highway 50 in Syracuse, Kan. About 1 a.m. that day, two suspects wearing ski masks entered the store. One of the robbers showed the clerk a .357 Magnum handgun and demanded money. The robber fired one shot to warn the clerk and then four shots at the locking mechanism on the stor s safe. The robbers took cash, two cartons of Marlboro cigarettes and 40 lighters before fleeing in a Cadillac.

The investigation led to a search warrant being served March 9, 2010, at Shor s residence at 302 Nipp in Johnson City, Kan.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the robbery charge, and a maximum penalty of life and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge.

Investigating agencies include the Greeley County Sherif s Office, the Hamilton County Sherif s Office, the Stanton County Sherif s Office, the Seward County Sherif s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.