Indianapolis Duo Each Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison

INDIANAPOLIS–Two men from Indianapolis have each been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 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.

The Department of Justice says 20-year-old Bryant Hoskins and 19-year-old Samuel Fancher Jr. committed two carjackings in less than one week, targeting Uber drivers during the late night hours back in May 2024.

On May 24, 2024 at around 4:30 am, both of them called an Uber to pick them up near East 21st street in Indianapolis. Once they got their drop off location, they held the driver at gunpoint and ordered him to get out of the car. The driver didn’t immediately comply, so police say one of the two dragged the driver out of the car and punched him in the head. They took the driver’s wallet and then drove away in his Toyota Rav 4. They fled the scene and took videos of themselves driving the stolen vehicle and bragging, “I told you we was gone get one…we got one.”

On May 29, 2024, they called another Uber to pick them up near Franklin Road, this time going after a luxury vehicle so they could sell their stolen vehicle for a profit. Once the female driver got there, they held that woman at gunpoint and ordered her to get out of her Mercedes GLA. Hoskins fired his weapon when the woman didn’t immediately comply and hit the woman in the shoulder. She survived, but had to be treated at a hospital.

Both men were arrested a short time later.

“Uber drivers frequently work alone during late hours, putting their safety at risk just to earn a living. The defendants exploited this vulnerability, leaving both victims deeply traumatized and showing no signs of remorse. Instead, they became emboldened—committing additional crimes and boasting about their actions,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Gig workers have the right to feel safe, especially as they provide vital transportation services. Our office remains committed to working with federal and local partners to ensure that violent offenders are held accountable for their reckless actions.”