Hogsett Announces Charges Against Indianapolis Man for String of Downtown Bank Robberies

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced today that Javon Jones, 33, Indianapolis, Indiana, has been charged in connection with five separate bank robberies in Indianapolis. This follows an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force.

“As part of our ongoing Violent Crime Initiative, we have reaffirmed our commitment to working with federal and local law enforcement to target repeat, violent offenders,” Hogsett said. “The allegations involved in this case, and the apparent disregard for both the law and the safety of our community, underscores the importance of our effort as we work to reduce violent crime across the state.”

The indictment alleges that from July to September of this year, Javon Jones robbed, or attempted to rob, five different Indianapolis banks:

• July 6: Huntington Bank, 6965 West 38th Street;
• July 21: Chase Bank, 1 East Ohio Street;
• July 25: Old National Bank, 5173 West Washington Street;
• August 8: Old National Bank, 35 North Lynhurst Avenue (attempted robbery);
• September 29: Huntington Bank, 201 North Illinois Street.

It is alleged that over the course of these five events, Jones utilized a variety of tactics in an effort to rob the banks. In the first three robberies, a note was handed to the teller threatening the use of a bomb if money wasn’t provided. A similar method was used in the August 8 robbery, but it is alleged that Jones fled the scene prior to receiving any money. During the September 29 robbery, Jones allegedly threatened bank employees by lifting up his shirt and pointing to what he claimed was a gun.

The one constant between all of the robberies, however, appears to have been the choice of clothing worn by the perpetrator. After the September 29 robbery, investigators recovered a grey striped shirt, as well as other evidence, in an alley outside of the Huntington Bank. The shirt was identified by a teller as being of the same type worn by the robber that day. According to bank video surveillance footage, a shirt of the same style appears to have been worn in three of the four other bank robberies. In addition, Jones appears to be wearing a similar shirt in an October 23, 2009, Marion County Sheriff’s Department booking photograph taken after his arrest for a traffic offense.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Jones faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the armed bank robberies, and a maximum of 20 years and a $200,000 fine for the attempted robbery. Jones is being held in the Marion County Jail awaiting an initial hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.