Sapulpa Man Pleads Guilty to Utica Square Bank Robbery

TULSA, Okla.— United States Attorney Trent Shores announced that Mark Nicholas Jones, 37, of Sapulpa, pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

On July 6, 2018, Jones entered Commerce Bank, located at 2054 Utica Square in Tulsa, wearing a mask and brandishing a 9 mm pistol. He demanded money from a teller and threatened to shoot customers discovered using cellphones. Jones then ordered the teller at gunpoint to fill a backpack with cash before fleeing the bank in an SUV. Tulsa Police officers later located Jones driving the same SUV in Tulsa, but he refused to stop for the officers. Jones then led police on an hour-long high speed chase before the Oklahoma Highway Patrol used a “Tactical Vehicle Intervention” maneuver to disable Jones’ vehicle. At the time of arrest, officers discovered the pistol and mask used in the crime, as well as the $2,379 in cash stolen from the bank.

As part of the plea agreement, Jones and the Government agreed to a sentence of 90 months in prison, restitution to the bank, and forfeiture of the weapon used in the crime.

United State Attorney Trent Shores stated, “Mr. Jones’ criminal actions on July 6 endangered the lives of bank employees and customers. He further endangered lives by leading law enforcement officers on a high speed chase. Criminals who put innocent Oklahomans at risk will be held responsible in a court of law.”

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in a coordinated effort to bring Jones into custody in connection to the crime, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.