INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man will spend more than 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing banks while on parole for robbing banks.
According to court documents, Jaquan Lavon Smith robbed four banks between Oct. 4 and Oct. 18, 2021. His two-week robbery spree netted him nearly $25,000.
Police said Smith would hand tellers a threatening note and demand $10,000. He also gave instructions to not use any security measures.
FBI agents arrested Smith as he was making a getaway from a BMO Harris Bank in Indianapolis on Oct. 18.
Smith has a history of robbing banks. In 2018, Smith robbed six banks in Indianapolis and one in Hamilton County in a 22-day period. He was released on parole in July 2021 and began robbing banks again about two months later.
“Again and again, this career criminal chose to terrorize innocent bank employees in his pursuit of what he believed would be easy cash,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“The reign of terror of the defendant is over, thanks to the outstanding investigative work and collaboration of the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “This sentence clearly demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to ensuring those who threaten bank employees and steal the peace of mind of residents of our community will pay the price.”
After serving his latest sentence, Smith will spend three years on probation.
