Madison Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Robbing Two Madison Businesses

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Scott C. Tolliver, 43, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for two counts of robbery. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Tolliver pleaded guilty to these charges on May 23, 2023. 

On April 15, 2022, at around 5:25 pm, Tolliver robbed the McDonald’s Restaurant on Regent Street in Madison. During the robbery, Tolliver approached the cash register wearing all black, sunglasses, and a medical-style facemask, pointed a black handgun at the employee, and demanded all of the money in the register.  After receiving cash from the employee, Tolliver fled the restaurant on a bicycle.

Later that same night, at around 8:53 pm, Tolliver robbed the Walgreens on East Campus Mall in Madison.  During that robbery, Tolliver approached the cash register wearing a black ski mask and dark clothing, showed the employee a black handgun in his waistband, and told her to give him all of the money and to not run.  After receiving the cash from the register, Tolliver fled the store on the same bicycle.

Madison Police Department officers were able to identify Tolliver as the robber of both businesses after reviewing surveillance video from McDonald’s, Walgreens, and city street cameras.  Officers were able to track Tolliver leaving both businesses and riding his bicycle back to his apartment in Madison.  When officers searched Tolliver’s apartment, they located the bicycle and clothing consistent with those worn by the robber.

At the time of the robberies, Tolliver was on active state supervision for a prior felony conviction.  He was also out on bond for a pending felony state case.

 At sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted Tolliver’s lengthy criminal history including prior convictions involving weapons, domestic violence, child abuse, batteries in prison, and stalking.  He said that Tolliver has repeatedly proven to be a danger to the community with instances of violence.  Judge Conley noted that the victims in this case suffered emotional distress during the robberies and the long-term impact on them is not fully knowable at this time.

The charges against Tolliver were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Dane County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance in the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this 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.