photo by: Sara Shepherd

Lawrence police investigate a reported armed robbery at Advance America, 2223 Louisiana St., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.

A Topeka man has been charged in federal court with robbing payday loan businesses in Lawrence and Topeka.

Derick Renee Crawford, 29, was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. Crawford faces two counts of commercial robbery for allegedly robbing the Advance America store at 2223 Louisiana St. in Lawrence on Feb. 21 and, about a month later, robbing an Advance America in Topeka.

In April, the FBI released surveillance photos from both robberies and announced a $5,000 reward for information.

In both incidents the suspect pointed a silver pistol at clerks and had his face covered with a cloth or mask, the FBI said.

The Lawrence incident prompted precautionary lockdowns at three nearby schools.

If convicted, Crawford faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000, McAllister said.

photo by: FBI

The FBI released this surveillance image of a suspect who robbed Advance America, 2223 Louisiana St. in Lawrence, at about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21, 2019.