Cowboy Bandits Face Prison For Woodland Hills Stickups

LOS ANGELES, CA — Sentencing was delayed Thursday for two Los Angeles men facing lengthy federal prison terms for carrying out a string of stick-ups attributed to the "Cowboy Gun Bandits" -- so named because of a distinctive long-barreled Colt six-shooter used in the heists.

Dominic Dorsey, 51, of Hollywood, and Reginald Bailey, 74, of the Jefferson Park district of Los Angeles were convicted three years ago of 11 felony robbery and firearms counts stemming from eight armed robberies. The pair's sentencing hearing was reset for Friday afternoon.

The Colt 1873 revolver used in the heists -- giving the case its name - - was never recovered.

Many of the winter 2013 hold-ups at filling stations in Woodland Hills, Newhall, Encino, Thousand Oaks and Atwater Village, and a Citibank branch in Glendale, were captured by video surveillance cameras, which allowed investigators to determine that one of the masked robbers was missing part of his ring finger on his left hand. That evidence helped lead authorities to Bailey.

In one instance, prior to the Encino heist, Dorsey's face and distinctive sneakers can be seen on video as he bought and pumped gas -- before he returned to rob the filling station wearing the same shoes and driving a similar car, evidence showed.

U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder said that according to sentencing guidelines, Bailey faces no less than 35 years behind bars, while Dorsey faces a 45-year stretch.

City News Service