A Texas man, Bobbe Gene Taylor, 25, of Tulsa was found guilty Monday of a violent robbery that left two cleaning crew workers injured. His co-defendant was acquitted, while three others had already pleaded guilty.
The victims, Dominican nationals working for a cleaning service, testified about the terrifying ordeal. They were lured to a Bixby home under false pretenses, only to be brutally attacked and robbed at gunpoint. One worker suffered a broken nose and orbital socket.
“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.”
Taylor’s conviction stems from a bizarre chain of events. The FBI had searched the Bixby house in an unrelated case, mistakenly believing it was abandoned.
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.
The victims 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.
Taylor was caught on camera with another defendant using a stolen credit card, leading to a search of their home where stolen items and firearms were found. Taylor later admitted his involvement in the robbery to law enforcement.
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Several other defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy and detailed their roles in the violent confrontation. They admitted to carrying firearms and acknowledged the potential for harm.
Sentencing for Taylor and the other guilty parties will be scheduled at a later date. The case was investigated by the FBI and Jenks Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher leading the prosecution.
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