Three Men Tied to Former Bank Robber Otis McAllister Arrested on Bank Robbery Conspiracy Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the arrests of three men involving a conspiracy to rob the Pulaski Bank in Florissant, MO. Ray Anthony Bassett, Memphis, TN; Willie James Bassett, Jr., Memphis, TN, and Anthony McAllister, St. Louis City, were charged by criminal complaint filed late Friday, November 4, 2011.

According to the affidavit filed with the complaint, on November 3, the FBI received information that Ray Anthony Bassett, Willie James Basset and Anthony McAllister, along with Otis McAllister, were planning to rob a branch of the Pulaski Bank early in the morning on Friday, November 4, 2011. The Bassetts and Anthony McAllister are associates of Otis McAllister, who is currently serving 37 years in federal prison for the armed robberies of St. Louis-area banks and credit unions over a five-year period that netted more than $1.4 million and involved taking bank employees as hostages at gun point. As part of the bank robbery conspiracy, the Bassetts drove to St. Louis County from Memphis, TN, to stay at Anthony McAllister’s house on Lilac Avenue the night before the planned bank robbery. A search warrant was executed at the Lilac Avenue house late Thursday evening, and the defendants were arrested and taken into custody.

Each defendant was charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery pursuant to 18:2113 (a) and 18:371.

If the defendants are convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

As is always the case, charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.