A man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for aiding two juveniles, known as “Kia Boys,” in a 45-minute robbery spree throughout the South Loop, West Loop, and Near West Side.
Marion Cotton, aged 21, admitted guilt to two counts of armed robbery with a firearm under a plea deal with Judge Angela Munari-Petrone, leading to the dismissal of two other robbery charges against him by prosecutors.
Authorities reported that Cotton, along with another 21-year-old named Jamar McKay, collaborated with 14- and 15-year-old boys to execute up to 12 armed robberies. The spree concluded when their stolen Kia crashed on the Eisenhower Expressway, prompting a flight from Illinois State Police and Chicago Police officers in July 2023.
The crime spree began with the robbery of two tourists on the 1100 block of West Chicago Avenue at approximately 2:30 a.m. Items were stolen from a 39-year-old man and his 41-year-old female companion. Both Cotton and McKay allegedly struck the woman on the head with handguns, as per state criminal complaints.
Further robberies took place at various locations, including the 600 block of West Cabrini Street, 1100 block of South Canal Street, 1100 block of West Taylor Street, 2400 block of South Canal Street, 1200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, and 2500 block of South Halsted Street.
Subsequent to the robbery on Milwaukee Avenue, a state trooper identified the stolen Kia, which had been connected to the crime spree by Chicago police. The vehicle attempted to flee from the trooper before crashing on the Eisenhower Expressway near Morgan Street.
Cotton and McKay then escaped the crash site by crossing all lanes of expressway traffic and running along CTA tracks, as detailed in a CPD arrest report. Both individuals eventually surrendered. The stolen Kia exhibited a broken rear passenger window and was being driven with a USB plug in the ignition, typical indicators of the “Kia Boy” theft technique that exploits a flaw in older Kia and Hyundai models.
The 14-year-old accomplice faces 12 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, while information on charges against the 15-year-old remains undisclosed.
McKay, charged alongside Cotton and the juveniles, is due back in court on June 3. Like Cotton, McKay is facing four robbery charges.
