In a recent federal court judgement, two Indianapolis men have been handed significant prison sentences for a spate of violent carjackings. Bryant Hoskins, 20, and Samuel Fancher, Jr., 19, were each given 17 years behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to multiple charges. These charges included two counts of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
As detailed in court documents, the pair committed two aggressive carjackings targeting Uber drivers within a week in late May of 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, John E. Childress, in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, condemned the violent acts and stressed the vulnerabilities gig workers face, especially while working late hours. The first attack happened on May 24, with the carjackers dragging a driver out of his Toyota Rav 4 after forcing him at gunpoint, punching him in the head when he hesitated to comply.
After fleeing with the victim's vehicle and wallet, and bragging about their feat in videos, they carried out a second carjacking on May 29. Having requested an Uber near Franklin Road, the duo targeted a female driver of a Mercedes GLA. The altercation that followed saw Hoskins fire his weapon, resulting in the driver sustaining a gunshot injury to the shoulder, for which she received treatment at a local hospital. According to FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge, Timothy O'Malley, who told the U.S. Attorney's Office press release, the sentence is a clear indication of the law enforcement's dedication to tackling violent crime.
The investigation into these crimes was a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). Both Hoskins and Fancher Jr. were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Massa and Jeremy C. Fugate leading the prosecution. These cases are a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and making communities safer. Launched with a renewed strategy in May 2021, PSN is focused on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention measures, and ensuring that enforcement is focused and effective.
