Mehan said today the loot was between $5 million and $7 million in cash from the business at 3721 Grandel Square.

Various numbers had surfaced in the past but none was ever officially confirmed. The most authoritative to this point had been $9 million, based on a comment months ago by St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom that about $3 million had been recovered, which he characterized as about one-third of the loot.

Until Jones' plea to the new charges, no one had been charged with the crime itself, although three people have been named on charges related to hiding the proceeds, including his girlfriend and her brother.

The only person besides Jones to be identified in public court documents as one of the bandits is Larry Romel Newman, 19. He is held on kidnapping charges that claim he and two other men abducted Jones' girlfriend's daughter and niece Nov. 21 to try to secure more of the robbery loot as ransom. The girls were released unharmed and the FBI said the $15,000 ransom was not paid.

Jones said little in court this afternoon, mostly answering yes or no to routine questions.

Chief District Judge Catherine Perry noted that he takes blood pressure medication, and asked if that might impair his awareness of the consequences of his plea.