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A pair of Indianapolis men face 17 years in prison after they were convicted of committing two armed carjackings in 2024.
U.S. District Judge Richard Young sentenced Bryant Hoskins, 20, and Samuel Fancher, Jr., 19, of Indianapolis each to 17 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after they pleaded 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.
According to court documents, in late May of 2024, Fancher and Hoskins committed two violent carjackings in less than one week, targeting Uber drivers during the late-night hours.
On May 24, 2024, the duo called an Uber to pick them up near East 21st Street in Indianapolis. Once they reached their drop off location, they held the driver at gunpoint and ordered him to get out of the car, authorties said.
When the driver did not immediately comply, one of the defendants 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.
After fleeing the scene, they took videos of themselves driving the stolen vehicle and bragging, “I told you we was gone get one… we got one.”
Just five days later on May 29, the duo called another Uber to pick them up near Franklin Road, this time targeting a luxury vehicle so they could sell the stolen vehicle for profit, according to court documents.
Once they reached their drop off location, they held the female driver at gunpoint and ordered her to get out of her Mercedes GLA, authorities said. She did not immediately comply, and during the ensuing struggle Hoskins fired his weapon. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and received treatment at a local hospital.
“Uber drivers frequently work alone during late hours, putting their safety at risk just to earn a living,”John Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said in a news release. “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.”
FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley:“No one should fear becoming a victim of violence simply while driving their car in an effort to support themselves.”
FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case.
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