Former Steak ‘n Shake worker robs restaurant, then gets scammed buying car, feds say

About two months after his last day working at Steak ‘n Shake, a Missouri man walked into the restaurant’s back office and robbed the owner at gunpoint, authorities said.

Then the former employee went on a five-day shopping spree, according to an Oct. 20 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Prosecutors said his purchases included a new iPhone and a diamond ring for his girlfriend.

He also paid his rent and his girlfriend’s phone bill, authorities said, and he lost $1,000 trying to buy a car from an online scammer.

Now almost three years later, the Riverview man has been sentenced to federal prison, records show.

His defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 23.

Prosecutors said “evidence and testimony” showed that the man robbed the Berkeley restaurant’s owner at about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 23, 2021, according to the release.

In June, a jury found him guilty of two felonies: possession and brandishing a firearm in attempt to obstruct, delay or affect commerce by robbery and interfering with commerce with threats of violence.

On Oct. 19, the judge ordered him to 10 years and five months in prison, records show. He also must pay $3,715 in restitution.

Steak ‘n Shake did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 23.

Berkeley is part of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Former Steak ‘n Shake worker robs restaurant, then gets scammed buying car, feds say."