Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Spree of Violent, Armed Robberies of Three Indianapolis Businesses

INDIANAPOLIS- Alfred Cunningham, 28, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, from January 16, 2021, to February 4, 2021, Cunningham robbed three Indianapolis businesses while armed with a firearm.

On January 16, 2021, at about 8:50 p.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were dispatched to a Dollar General store on Rockville Road in Indianapolis for an armed robbery. During the robbery, Cunningham entered the store, pointed a handgun at employees and forced them to remove money from the safe and the registers. Cunningham also stole an employee’s cellphone and wallet, which contained identification and credit cards.

On January 20, 2021, at about 8:25 PM, IMPD officers were dispatched to the Phillips 66 located on W. Washington Street for an armed robbery. When officers arrived, an employee described the robbery, stating that Cunningham pointed a semiautomatic pistol at him and yelled “give up the money.” The employee opened the register, removed the cash, and handed it to Cunningham. Cunningham ordered him to open the safe. The employee told Cunningham that there was no safe, but Cunningham forced him into the office and again ordered him to open it. The employee again stated there was no safe and opened a file cabinet. Cunningham ran from the store with cash from the register.

On February 4, 2021, at 8:27pm, IMPD officers were dispatched to a Dollar General on Washington Street for another robbery. Cunningham approached an employee and asked her about rope, razors, and a few other items, then purchased the items and continue to browse the store. Cunningham approached the counter again with a black handgun and demanded the employees open the safe. He told the employees “I will shoot you, but I don’t want to.” Cunningham grabbed an employee by the shoulder, pushed her down, and ordered her to open the safe and the register. He again fled the scene.

That same evening, around 8:45pm, an IMPD officer found Cunningham walking near the 5600 block of Ray Street. After a brief physical struggle, Cunningham was arrested. Officers located the black handgun used in the last robbery in Cunningham’s right pant leg near the ankle, loaded with six rounds, and $235 in cash.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.

“The outcomes of these robberies could have been very different, even deadly, given the use of a loaded gun. No one should fear for their lives while they are simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend IMPD and the FBI for putting an end to these robberies and ensuring that those who terrorize our communities with gun violence are held accountable.”  

FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Cunningham be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $4,435 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence T. Hilton, who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.