Nationwide — Tony Bailey, an African American man from Indianapolis, is working as a city bus driver after spending 27 years in prison for a 1997 armed robbery case. He was released early in 2024, but federal officials are now trying to overturn that decision and send him back to prison.
Bailey has spent more than a year driving for IndyGo while rebuilding his daily life and reconnecting with his family. He says the job has helped him stay focused after decades in federal custody.
“I chose to better myself in prison… and now that I am out, I have proved myself that I am capable of being in society,” he said, according to 11Alive. “I deeply regret the mistakes I made in 1997. I ain’t the same person I was then.”
The case dates back to 1997, when prosecutors say Bailey and two others carjacked a UPS truck and used it to rob a bank in Chesterfield, Indiana. After the robbery, the group crashed near Pendleton, entered a home, held a family at gunpoint, and forced the homeowner to drive them to Indianapolis.
Court records show Bailey received a 728-month federal sentence, driven by mandatory sentencing rules, weapon use, and his prior criminal record. In 2024, a federal judge in Indianapolis reduced his sentence after reviewing updated sentencing reforms and ruled that he had served enough time, leading to his release after 27 years.
The U.S. Department of Justice has appealed the ruling and is seeking to reverse the sentence reduction. Officials argue that the original sentencing laws still apply and that the reduction should not stand. If the appeal succeeds, Bailey could be required to serve the remainder of his original sentence.
His family says he has changed and built a stable life since his release, taking on roles as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His legal team is continuing to fight the appeal, arguing that he has already served a long and sufficient sentence. One relative of a victim has also said 27 years may be enough and supports allowing him to move forward.