Carterville man pleads guilty to robbing St. Louis gas station, stealing bag of Hot Fries

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KBSI) – A Carterville, Illinois man pleaded guilty and admitted to robbing a St. Louis 7-Eleven in 2023.

Payton Robert Yates, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of possession of and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

He admitted to robbing the 7-Eleven at 5350 Chippewa Street in St. Louis on June 30, 2023.

Yates approached the cash register, placed a bag of Hot Fries on the counter and then pulled out a handgun before telling the cashier, “Empty the register,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri.

Yates left with $134.77 and the Hot Fries.

He got into a blue Toyota Tundra that was parked nearby.

Yates’ father had reported the Tundra stolen a few days earlier. A handgun was inside and Yates pawned the gun two days later, according to authorities.

Yates is scheduled to be sentenced June 4.

Both sides recommend nine years in prison.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Torrie Schneider is prosecuting the case.