INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Laurens Jean-Francois, 23, of Haiti, guilty of two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Jean-Francois committed two armed robberies in Indianapolis over a three‑day period in July 2025.On July 19, a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver arrived at the Scarborough Lake Apartments to deliver an order. As the victim knocked on the apartment door, Jean‑Francois approached from a stairwell holding a .556 caliber AR‑15 pistol. He demanded the driver’s wallet, cell phone, and food order before telling him to run. The victim later provided police with a description of the suspect, and the robbery was captured by external surveillance cameras.Three days later, on July 22, Jean‑Francois entered the Xpress Pantry on North High School Road wearing a ski mask, clear latex gloves, and dark clothing. After initially asking a clerk to retrieve a phone charger kept in a locked display, Jean-Francois brandished the same AR‑15 pistol used in the previous robbery, demanding cash from the register.IMPD officers arrested Jean‑Francois on July 29, 2025, during a traffic stop of a Ford Fusion in which he was a passenger. Officers observed the AR‑15 in plain view, leaning against the rear driver’s side door. Jean‑Francois was also wearing the same ski mask worn in the Xpress Pantry robbery.Further investigation revealed he was unlawfully present in the United States, as his green card had expired in August 2024.The FBI Indianapolis Field Office and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young presided over the trial and will sentence Jean-Francois at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Matt Barloh and Michelle P. Brady for prosecuting the case, along with paralegal specialists Kayla Whitaker and Paige Carpenter, and Victim Witness Specialists Johnna Preidt and Maurine Bwambok. ###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice