Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) any brand of the high-priced trainers (Nike, Adidas etc) worn by teenagers (cf. larceny shoes under larceny n.).

1974		Ebony Dec. 118/2: Other frequently used [police] jargon includes [...] ‘felony shoes’ for sneakers (‘we feel secure that a guy in high heels is not going to mug,’ laughs Niles ).
1984		J. Grady Runner in the Street 257: Walking the sidewalks wearing our ‘felony flyers’ with windbreakers and cords we looked like aging fraternity brothers.
1989		(con. 1982–6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 103: These younger patrons are sensitive to the older habitués’ description of them as [...] ‘kids in felony shoes [sneakers]’.
1989		A. Vachss Hard Candy (1990) 4: A blank-faced Spanish kid [...] Felony-flyers on his feet.
1990		M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 21: Expensive Nike sneakers, so-called felony shoes.
1995		R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 124: His feet, in size fourteen felony flyers, were up on [...] the desk.
2000		J. Stacy Inside 911 56: Make sure your track record is good and wear your best or favorite running shoes, also known as ‘felony flyers’.
2001		J.R. Lankford Crowning Circle 259: They had on two or three layers of shirts, huge pants and the high-top sneakers Skeet had said the police call felony shoes.
2005		www.theweebsite.com 28 June 🌐 Athletic shoes come in many types and many nicknames [...] Felony Flyers, Felony shoes [...] whatever ye’ calls ’em, I like Sneakers!