CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Collinsville, Ill., man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to multiple felonies in connection with a November armed robbery in Ripley County.
Travis W. Davis, 41, pleaded guilty to the felonies of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence, robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to a plea agreement signed by Davis, he agreed with two other people to rob a marijuana dealer in Ripley County in November.
Davis took a short-barreled shotgun to accost the dealer to take his marijuana and some firearms kept in the dealer’s home, the plea agreement says.
Davis, the plea agreement further says, fired his shotgun three times at the door of the dealer’s home to gain entry.
In doing so, he reportedly injured one of his associates with the shotgun pellets.
Davis and his companions, the plea agreement says, took marijuana and firearms from the dealer, got their wounded associate and then drove back to Illinois.
The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated.
During the ensuing investigation, it was determined Davis had driven back to Illinois. At the request of Missouri officials, the Illinois State Police reportedly went to Davis’ home and arrested Davis and his associates.
Some of the firearms stolen from the marijuana dealer were found in Davis’ home, along with the short-barreled shotgun.
At the time the robbery occurred, Davis was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Davis had previous convictions for possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine in March 2001 in St. Charles County; attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in August 2004 and January 2011 in Lincoln County and manufacture of a controlled substance in August 2010 in Pike County.
After accepting Davis’ plea, Limbaugh set his sentencing for Jan. 22. At that time, Davis faces a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime or crime of violence, according to the plea agreement, carries a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence.
With his plea, Davis became the second to admit his role in the armed robbery,
His codefendant, James M. Judd of O’Fallon, Mo., pleaded guilty in September to the felonies of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence and interference with commerce by robbery,
Judd is to appear Jan. 7 before Limbaugh for sentencing.
At that time, he faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge, up to life in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and 20 years on the robbery charge.