Melvin Landry, Jr., Armed Robbery, California 2013

Armed Robbery Ring Targets Bay Area Businesses

The Bay Area has seen a string of armed robberies targeting commercial businesses, including Walmart and Safeway stores. The suspects, identified as Melvin Landry, Jr., 22, and Dominique Martin, 22, both of Oakland, have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, robbery affecting interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), and the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to the indictment, between 2012 and continuing into 2013, Landry and Martin robbed Wal-Mart stores in Fremont, San Leandro, and Sacramento, as well as a Safeway store in Oakland, each time brandishing a firearm at employees during the robberies. The loss amount from these robberies was at least $275,000, a large portion of which was cash.

Landry is charged with 4 counts of Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm during those robberies. Martin is charged with 2 counts of Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm during those robberies. Landry is also charged with obstruction of justice and attempted bribery of a federal official. Cassandra Dam, 29, of Oakland, has been charged with making false statements to federal agents in connection with their investigation into Landry and Martin.

The maximum statutory penalty for use/possession of a firearm in furtherance of the Hobbs Act robbery, a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c), is life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, but carries a mandatory minimum consecutive prison term of 5 years for the first Section 924(c) conviction, and a 25-year mandatory minimum consecutive term in prison for each second or successive 924(c) conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Fremont Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the Oakland Police Department, the San Leandro Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Pinole Police Department, and the San Rafael Police Department.

United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced the indictment, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals accountable for their crimes. The public is urged to contact the FBI San Francisco Division at (415) 553-7400 if they have any information regarding the case.

Please note, indictments and complaints contain only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, those named herein must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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