TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man was sentenced today to 24 months
in federal prison for robbing a health club, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister
said.
George Bernard Phelps, III, 31, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty
to one count of robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on Nov. 24, 2017, he and
another man robbed the Genesis Health Club at 2909 Southwest 37th Street in
Topeka.
A Genesis employee
came upon the two defendants in the lobby of the business while they were
attempting to pry open a box used for money deposits by members of the club.
Phelps told the employee the robbers did not want trouble and instructed him to
wait in an adjacent room. Phelps stood in the doorway of the room with his hand
in the waistband of his pants as if he had a gun. The defendants removed cash
and checks from the box and then fled.
When police arrived, an employee told officers that one of
the robbers resembled a former employee of the business. Investigators
identified co-defendant Lesley Jamar Terrell, Jr., 34, Topeka, Kan., a prior
employee of the club who worked as an overnight maintenance worker. Terrell
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
McAllister commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI
and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
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