Suspected Car Thief Facing Federal Charges for Involvement in Robbery at Edwardsville Best Buy Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois Byline: Lauren Barry Dateline: East St. Louis, Illinois Date: 27 June 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Missouri woman is facing federal charges for her involvement in a robbery at the Best Buy in Edwardsville.

A federal grand jury charged Jakiaya T. McCoy, 21, of Florissant, Missouri, with two counts of transportation of a stolen vehicle, one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun.

“To help protect store employees and instill a better sense of safety for businesses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing violent crime throughout the Metro East and southern Illinois by holding offenders accountable for their criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.

According to court documents, McCoy’s allegations stem from her involvement in a robbery of Best Buy in Edwardsville on Dec. 14, 2023. She is accused of unlawfully taking Apple iPads, a hoverboard and other property by force.

As alleged in the indictment, McCoy is also accused of possessing a Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a switch.

"No person or business should feel threatened by individuals who create chaos, spread fear, and have no regard for people or property," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans.  "The FBI Metro East Safe Streets Task Force is committed to ensuring the safety of the people who live in our communities and the businesses that operate there."

In addition, McCoy is accused of knowingly transporting two stolen vehicles in Madison County in November 2023, namely a 2013 Kia Optima and a 2018 Chrysler 300.

An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

If convicted, a charge for interference with commerce by robbery is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, transportation of a stolen vehicle can face a term of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and possession of a machinegun may result in up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

McCoy is scheduled for arraignment at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8.

The FBI Springfield Field Office, the Glen Carbon Police Department, the Sunset Hills, Missouri, Police Department and the Wood River Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert is prosecuting the case.

Updated June 27, 2024