News Summary
Makih A. Hall and Lazaro Medina-Lopez have been federally charged for participating in a series of armed bank and business robberies in Kansas City. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment detailing their alleged crimes from June. Each man faces multiple felony counts, which could lead to up to 20 years in federal prison for each count if convicted. The investigation involved collaboration between several law enforcement agencies, highlighting concerns over safety and crime in the Kansas City area.
Kansas City — Two men from Kansas City, Makih A. Hall, 21, and Lazaro Medina-Lopez, 29, have been federally charged for their alleged involvement in a series of armed bank and business robberies that took place during the first half of June 2024. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced the indictment on July 16, 2024, detailing a string of criminal activities linked to the pair.
Hall and Medina-Lopez face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery, alongside two counts of aiding and abetting bank robbery. Each of these charges is classified as a class C felony, which carries significant penalties. If convicted, both men could each receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole for each count. Additionally, fines of up to $250,000 could be imposed for each conviction.
The criminal activities attributed to Hall and Medina-Lopez unfolded over a span of two weeks, starting from June 1 to June 14, 2024. Their criminal spree reportedly began with the robbery of a Family Dollar store in Kansas City, where they allegedly utilized actual and threatened force, violence, and intimidation to execute the heist. This incident was followed by the theft of approximately $7,000 from the Holy Rosary Credit Union on June 4, where they employed similar tactics of intimidation and violence.
On June 7, Hall made an unsuccessful attempt to rob another business, El Mercado Fresco, while on June 12, both men successfully stole over $1,600 from the Central Bank located in Independence. Their final alleged attempt occurred on June 14 when Medina-Lopez is said to have attempted to rob the Holy Rosary Credit Union once again.
At present, Hall is being held at the Jackson County Jail, where he has been incarcerated since mid-June 2024. Additionally, there is an FBI hold placed on him. Meanwhile, an arraignment for Medina-Lopez has been scheduled for July 23, 2024.
The rigorous investigation that led to the charges against Hall and Medina-Lopez involved collaborative efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kansas City Police Department, and Independence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther is overseeing the prosecution of this case.
While the details of the investigation and the charges are alarming, they shed light on ongoing concerns regarding armed robberies and safety in the Kansas City area. The legal proceedings will continue as both men prepare to defend against these serious charges in federal court.
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Additional Resources
- Kansas City Star
- KCTV5
- Fox 4 Kansas City
- KTTN
- KMBC
- Wikipedia: Robbery
- Google Search: Kansas City bank robbery 2024
- Google Scholar: Armed robbery
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Robbery
- Google News: Kansas City robbery
Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER
The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.
