Two Men Dubbed the ‘Cowboy Gun Bandits’ Found Guilty of Armed Robbery Spree Involving Large-Caliber Handgun

          LOS ANGELES – Two men who earned the moniker the “Cowboy Gun Bandits” for brandishing a large-caliber revolver during a series of robberies – starting with gas stations and culminating in a bank robbery that netted them over $55,000 – were convicted today in federal court.

          Dominic Dorsey, 48, of Hollywood, and Reginald Bailey, 71, of the Jefferson Park district of Los Angeles, were found guilty of 11 felony counts – conspiracy to interfere with commerce in violation of the Hobbs Act, five specific Hobbs Act robberies and five counts of using a firearm during the robberies.

          The jury that heard evidence during a trial that lasted just over two weeks found Dorsey and Bailey guilty of five robberies:

          • a September 24, 2013, robbery at a Shell gas station in Woodland Hills;

          • an October 6, 2013, robbery at an ARCO gas station in Newhall;

          • an October 18, 2013, robbery at a Chevron gas station in Woodland Hills;

          • an October 25, 2013, robbery at an ARCO gas station in Encino; and

          • a November 5, 2013, robbery of a Citibank branch in Glendale that netted more than $55,000.

          In addition to these robberies, the jury heard evidence in relation to the conspiracy count that Dorsey and Bailey also committed robberies at three other gas stations in October 2013.

          Many of the robberies were captured by video surveillance, which allowed investigators to determine that one of the robbers was missing part of his ring finger on his left hand. The video surveillance evidence helped lead authorities to Bailey, whose left hand is missing a portion of his ring finger.

          “These defendants participated in a series of brazen robberies involving guns aimed at terrorized employees,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “While the robbers were extremely careful in concealing their identities during the robberies, the excellent work of law enforcement authorities led to their identification and convictions at trial.”

          “Task Force members who partnered to work this case and others are able to identify and remove violent armed robbers from the streets of Los Angeles by utilizing resources at the state and federal level,” said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Field Office. “A collaborative effort by detectives, agents and prosecutors paid off as evidenced by today’s verdicts, and as scores of victims robbed at gunpoint during the defendants’ robbery spree receive justice.”

          “I am always impressed by the collective talents of our Robbery Homicide detectives who worked tirelessly on this case along with our law enforcement partners to identify and locate these violent offenders who preyed upon our communities” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said. “This is truly another example of solid investigative police work,” Beck concluded.

          Each of the Hobbs Act violations – a total of six – carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The gun violations carry potential life sentences, but also would bring mandatory minimum sentences of seven years for the first count and 25 years for each of the four additional counts, which means Dorsey and Bailey are expected to receive sentences of at least 107 years in federal prison.

          United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder, who presided over the trial, is scheduled to sentence the two defendants on November 14.

          The investigation into the string of robberies by the “Cowboy Gun Bandits” was conducted by Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Crime, which is made up of investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The Glendale Police Department provided substantial assistance during the investigation.

          This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph D. Axelrad of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.