Kent Man Convicted of 17 Felonies in Armed Robbery Spree

A federal jury in Seattle convicted Shannon Hartfield, a 26-year-old Kent man, on May 26 of 17 felony counts related to a violent robbery spree that targeted marijuana dispensaries and banks across the Puget Sound region from December 2021 to June 2022. According to a U.S.

Department of Justice press release, Hartfield recruited, supplied, and managed a team of young people, often juveniles, to carry out the robberies. The jury deliberated for approximately three days following a three-week trial before U.S.

District Judge Lauren King, who scheduled sentencing for August. Hartfield remains in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.

Prosecutors said Hartfield played a managerial role in the conspiracy, selecting targets, providing firearms, and arranging getaway cars that were often driven at high speeds. On February 17, 2022, Hartfield and his crew robbed Kushman and Have a Heart dispensaries in Snohomish County.

On March 11, 2022, they hit Lucid Cannabis in Auburn and West Seattle Dispensary. On April 18, 2022, they targeted Forbidden Cannabis in Lacey.

After Hartfield and some accomplices were arrested and questioned by police in May 2022, the group shifted to robbing credit unions and banks. On May 26, 2022, they robbed Seattle Credit Union and Sound Credit Union.

On June 7, 2022, they failed to rob a Chase Bank branch but then robbed a Salal Credit Union, holding tellers at gunpoint. On June 17, 2022, they robbed a Chase Bank branch in Kent and were arrested shortly afterward.

Hartfield has been in custody since then.

In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Foerster detailed Hartfield's role.

The convictions include conspiracy to commit robbery, five counts of robbery, three counts of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, one count of attempted armed bank robbery, and six counts of using a firearm in a crime of violence. The jury could not reach a verdict on three robbery counts and three firearm counts.

Each robbery count carries up to 20 years in prison, armed bank robbery up to 25 years, and firearm counts a mandatory minimum of seven years consecutive. Hartfield faces a mandatory minimum of 45 years.

The FBI led the investigation with assistance from multiple local police departments.