A 23-year-old Haitian man was sentenced to nearly 18 years in federal prison after committing two violent robberies in Indianapolis last year.
Laurens Jean-Francois was sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
In June, a federal jury convicted Jean-Francois of two charges of interfering with commerce by robbery, two counts of flashing a handgun during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
According to court documents and evidence produced during the trial, Jean-Francois conducted two armed robberies three days apart in July 2025.
On July 19, police said Jean-Francois approached a Domino’s delivery driver at Scarborough Lake Apartments, armed with an AR-15-style weapon. He demanded the driver’s wallet, cellphone, and food before instructing him to flee.
Three days later, Jean-Francois walked into the Xpress Pantry on North High School Road, wearing a ski mask and gloves. Prosecutors claimed he drew the same weapon and demanded money from the register.
On July 29, IMPD officers arrested Jean-Francois while conducting a traffic stop. Police stated the pistol was visible inside the truck, and Jean-Francois was wearing the same ski mask as in the Xpress Pantry robbery.
After being released from federal prison, Jean-Francois will face deportation from the United States.
IMPD and the FBI investigated the case.
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