Tulsa Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Multiple Armed Robberies

TULSA, Okla. – A man convicted of three armed robberies in Tulsa was sentenced Tuesday for his crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. In March 2019, a jury found Melvin Louis Bailey, 26, of Tulsa guilty of obstructing commerce by robbery; carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and Hobbs Act conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Bailey to 33 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The Court denied Bailey’s request for downward variance and further ordered the defendant to pay $7,968 in restitution for his crimes.

“Melvin Bailey committed so many armed robberies in Tulsa and Texas that he lost count of the total number of offenses. His armed robbery crime spree has earned him 33 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The Tulsa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation joined with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Fries and Ryan Roberts to form a formidable investigative and prosecution team. This is justice achieved through another Project Safe Neighborhoods prosecution.”

From April 2015 to January 2018, the defendant committed three separate armed robberies of two Walgreens’ locations in Tulsa. During the crimes, Bailey brandished a shotgun or handgun to intimidate Walgreens’ employees. In January 2018, he also conspired with a juvenile to rob the pharmacy. As part of the conspiracy, Bailey provided a mask and firearm to the juvenile, and the two discussed strategy to commit the crime. Afterward, he and his co-conspirator met at Bailey’s apartment and divided the stolen money. Beyond his conviction in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Bailey has been named as a suspect in numerous other armed robberies.

Bailey remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis A. Fries and Ryan M. Roberts prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is the nationwide federal initiative to disrupt gun violence strategically and comprehensively, using all available enforcement and prosecutive tools.  The initiative involves a partnership of federal, state, and local authorities, uniting their efforts and leveraging existing and new resources. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners tailor their efforts to meet their own district’s unique needs, helping ensure the safety of communities in the Northern District of Oklahoma.