Tulsa Man Convicted by Jury after Robbing Dominican Nationals at Gunpoint

TULSA, Okla. - Yesterday afternoon, a federal jury returned a verdict convicting Bobbe Gene Taylor, 25, of Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery) and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The jury found Taylor's co-defendant, Walter Jay Johnson, 26, of Tulsa, not guilty. Three other co-defendants, Kemareay Ki'sean Green, 25, Lerontez Sherod Hill, 39, and Jeremiah Hamlin, 40, all from Tulsa, pled guilty to Conspiracy before the trial. One other co-defendant is still awaiting trial.

"During this trial, both victims, with the aid of a translator, courageously testified and described the horrible events that took place," said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. "This verdict is a direct result of their cooperation and excellent police work."

"The victims in this case were just trying to earn a living working for a contracted cleaning service when they were physically assaulted and robbed at gun point," said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. "Our community deserves to see that callous acts of violence will be met with serious consequences, and the verdict handed down today is the result of our commitment to that goal. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Jenks Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, these defendants will now face justice for their crimes."

In August 2021, the FBI was investigating an unrelated case and executed a warrant on a home in Bixby. The renter returned home, believing she had been burglarized, and contacted the defendants. The renter contacted the landlord and discovered that the FBI had executed a search warrant at the home and that a third-party vendor had removed items from the home, believing it was abandoned. The victims worked for the third-party vendor and were asked to return to the home.

Both employees are Dominican Nationals and testified at trial with the aid of a translator. They described that after they arrived, they were greeted by a defendant and told to back their truck into the driveway. After they put the items back, they were confronted by the armed defendants. The first employee testified that he was struck in the face twice, which broke his nose and orbital socket. The second employee testified that he attempted to take the gun of one of the defendants, but the defendant was stronger than him. They testified about being held at gunpoint while their pockets and truck were searched. The defendants took a debit card, identifications, cellphones, an Apple Watch, a business-related iPad, and several other items from the victim's vehicle.

Both victims were released and immediately drove to a local store, where law enforcement and medical personnel were contacted. Further investigation revealed that Taylor was seen with Hill, who used the stolen credit card. Video surveillance from the store led law enforcement to Hill and Taylor's home. After a search warrant was conducted on their home, items belonging to the victims and firearms were recovered in the home.

The recorded interview between Taylor and law enforcement was shown to the jury. Taylor contacted and requested to meet with law enforcement to discuss the search warrant on his home. During the interview, Taylor admitted that the individuals were robbed and that he should have done more to stop the entire incident.

Further investigation by law enforcement led to Green, Hamlin, and Johnson's involvement. After Johnson was arrested, he met with law enforcement. The recorded interview was played for the jury. After being read mirandized, Johnson explained that the renter contacted him. He told law enforcement that the victims did not speak English and were trying to say that the house was vacant. He further admitted that he pushed one of the victims and witnessed the assault of the other victim.

Court documents show that Green admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. He further admitted to carrying a firearm and witnessed the co-defendants carrying firearms. Additionally, Green knew that carrying a firearm was a substantial step and that it was foreseeable that someone would get hurt.

In Hill's plea agreement, he admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. Hill further admitted to striking the victim in the face and using the victim's credit card without permission. Hill also agreed to forfeit three pistols, one rifle, several magazines, and more than 50 rounds of ammunition.

Additionally, Hamlin admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. Before the victims arrived, Hamlin saw the defendants carry firearms into the house. When he met one of the victims in the driveway, Hamlin admittedly had his firearm on him. Inside the home, Hamlin held one of the victims against the wall while the other defendants searched the victims. By carrying a firearm, Hamlin also knew this was taking the confrontation to another level and that someone could get hurt.

Taylor, Green, Hill, and Hamlin will be sentenced separately at a later date.

The FBI and the Jenks Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.