Omaha Man Sentenced for Role in Bank Robbery with a Firearm

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced the Melvin L. Wilson, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 18, 2021 for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Wilson to a total of 60 months’ imprisonment. After Wilson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Wilson to pay restitution in the amount of $36,959.

An investigation conducted by the Omaha Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that on August 16, 2019, Wilson drove a rented white Infiniti Q50 sports car to Bank of the West located at 8707 W. Center Road in Omaha.  In the vehicle with Wilson was another male Wilson identified as Skyler Sanders.  Prior to the men arriving at Bank of the West, Wilson covered at least one of the license plates of the white Infiniti Q50 with dealer plates to conceal its identity. 

At approximately 10:37 a.m., Wilson and Sanders arrived at Bank of the West.  While Wilson waited as the get-a-way driver, Sanders is alleged to have exited the vehicle wearing dark clothing, including gloves, a black face mask, and carrying a black handgun.  Sanders allegedly walked into the Bank of the West, brandished a handgun, made contact with the tellers, and directed them to place the money from their drawers on the teller counter.  Sanders allegedly took $36,959 from the bank.  After the robbery, Sanders and Wilson fled the bank in the white Infiniti Q50.  The white Infiniti Q50 was located, abandoned, a few blocks away from the bank.  During the investigation Wilson’s DNA was found on a black mask that was found in the white Infiniti Q50.  Sander’s DNA was also found within the white Infiniti Q50. 

Sanders’s bench trial in front of Senior Judge Bataillon ended on September 1, 2021 and a judgment is forthcoming.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.