Tulsa Man Charged with Two Bank Robberies

A federal grand jury indicted a man this week for two bank robberies during which he claimed he had a bomb and firearms, announced Trent Shores.

Thomas Lawrence Dean, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of bank robbery using a dangerous weapon, conveying false information on hoaxes, and being a felon in possession of a FIE Corp. TITAN TIGER BLU .38 Special Caliber Revolver and associated ammunition.

Dean allegedly robbed an International Bank of Commerce (IBC) on July 1, 2019, and an Arvest Bank on July 10, 2019. In the IBC robbery, he is alleged to have approached a teller and handed her a note demanding money. In the note, Dean indicated that he was in possession of a bomb and firearm. Later, at Arvest Bank, Dean also demanded money, indicating in a note that he had a firearm.

“Ensuring public safety is paramount for state and federal law enforcement. Robbing banks by threatening to use guns and bombs is going to draw our combined attention,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “Perpetrators of violence and threatened violence will find themselves front and center in a court of law. The allegations in this case will be vigorously pursued.”

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley is prosecuting the case. AUSA Raley is the National Security Anti-Terrorism (ATAC) Prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.

A return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged federal crimes, which the government would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.