Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty To Robbery Conspiracy And Gun Charges

A man who conspired to rob a South Sioux City, Nebraska, business, and a Sioux City, Iowa business pled guilty March 28, 2013, in federal court in Sioux City.

Christopher Bailey, age 20, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, one count of robbery; one count of possessing a short-barreled rifle, one count of possessing a shoft-barreled shotgun; and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Information presented by the United States at the plea hearing revealed that on or about June 19, 2012, Christopher Bailey and five others conspired to, and actually did rob, Seoul Foods in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The men planned the robbery, assembled for the robbery, and armed themselves for the robbery in Sioux City, Iowa. The men also escaped to Sioux City, Iowa, after the robbery, where they divided the proceeds. The men used various weapons to rob Seoul Foods including a stolen rifle that one of the men shortened.

Seoul Foods was just about to close when it was robbed, and the
owners and employees had their children inside their store with them. One of the children was just 4 years old.

On or about July 13, 2012, Christopher Bailey and three others – including two of the men with whom he robbed the Seoul Foods – conspired to and did actually rob Sarg's Mini Mart in Sioux City, Iowa. The foursome used a single firearm – a short barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number – to commit the robbery. Before robbing Sarg’s the foursome had driven around the metro area searching for a victim-business. They considered banks and at least one other convenience store.

Co-defendants who have entered pleas are: David Johnson on January 4, 2013; Dustin Mathison on January 16, 2013; Rudy Johnson on February 20, 2013; Joshua Fields on February 26, 2013; and Terrence Miles and Austin Peters on March 26, 2013. Defendant, Paige Mathison’s next appearance is for trial on May 6, 2013, in the United States District Court, in Sioux City. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Bailey remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy to commit robbery charges and the robbery charge, Bailey faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the possession of a short-barreled rifle and short-barreled shotgun charges Bailey faces 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release
following any imprisonment. On the first charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Bailey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment which must be served consecutive to any other sentence. On the second charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Bailey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment which must be served consecutive to any other sentence.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 12-4083.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Officers of the Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; and the South Sioux City, Nebraska Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.