A Seattle criminal who recruited vulnerable teenagers to carry out violent armed robberies across the Puget Sound region will spend the next 17 years in federal prison after targeting marijuana dispensaries and banks in a crime spree that left one worker dead.

Adult Predator Used Children as Criminal Tools

Michael Keylon Miller-Jimerson, 26, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to armed bank robbery, robbery, and conspiracy charges after orchestrating a series of violent crimes between December 2021 and June 2022. Federal prosecutors emphasized his leadership role in deliberately recruiting juveniles to minimize his own criminal liability while he collected proceeds from the thefts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Foerster told the court that Miller-Jimerson and co-conspirator Shannon Hartfield specifically targeted juveniles because they found them easy to control and believed the young accomplices would face lighter penalties if caught.

The crime spree escalated tragically in March 2022 when Miller-Jimerson served as getaway driver during a robbery at Tacoma’s World of Weed dispensary. An employee lost his life during that robbery, yet Miller-Jimerson continued his criminal operation without stopping. FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington stated that Miller-Jimerson armed vulnerable children and trained them to commit dangerous crimes while sharing in tens of thousands of dollars of stolen cash.

Six-Month Terror Campaign Across Puget Sound

The robbery spree began on Christmas Eve 2021 when Miller-Jimerson’s crew hit Greenworks and Greenfire marijuana dispensaries in Seattle. Over the following months, the armed group targeted additional dispensaries including Zips Dispensary in Tacoma, Lucid Cannabis in Auburn, West Seattle Dispensary, Bakeree dispensary in Seattle, and World of Weed in Tacoma. After the fatal World of Weed robbery, the crew shifted focus to banks. They unsuccessfully attempted to rob a Chase Bank branch in Seattle during June 2022, then forced employees at gunpoint to unlock safes at Salal Credit Union. Their final robbery occurred June 17, 2022, at another Seattle Chase branch.

Federal Justice Targets Adult Exploiters

Miller-Jimerson’s 17-year federal sentence will run concurrently with a 15-year sentence from Pierce County Superior Court. Co-conspirator Shannon Hartfield was convicted in May 2026 of 17 federal felonies connected to the robbery scheme. FBI Special Agent Herrington emphasized that the sentencing sends a clear message that adults who exploit juveniles to act on their behalf will face targeted federal prosecution. The case demonstrates federal commitment to protecting children from criminal predators who manipulate vulnerable youth into violent crime.