Jeffrey Fleshood, 44, of Franklin, Indiana was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Felon in Possession of a Firearm as an Armed Career Criminal.
According to court documents, on October 12, 2021, Jeffrey Fleshood attempted to rob a car dealership located on Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Around 12:30 pm that afternoon, Fleshood called the business to inquire about a truck that had been advertised for sale. Fleshood confirmed that he would come by the dealership at some point to buy the truck.
At 3:23 p.m. that same day, Fleshood entered the dealership. Fleshood spoke to Victim 1, who was working at the dealership that day, and told him that he wanted to see the truck. Fleshood then brandished a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, pointed it at Victim 1, and ordered him to get on his knees and put his hands in the air. Fleshood held the muzzle of the pistol against Victim 1's back and attempted to bind his hands with zip-ties. Victim 1 fought back and wrestled the gun from Fleshood. During the struggle, Fleshood struck Victim 1 multiple times with his fists and the pistol. Victim 1 suffered multiple cuts, bruises, and a broken tooth because of the fight.
Victim 1 managed to get the gun away from Fleshood and call 911. Fleshood fled the scene of the robbery and was quickly arrested by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers at the intersection of Southeastern and Arsenal avenues. During the investigation, officers located zip-ties on Fleshood's person and scattered in the street.
At the time of his arrest, Fleshood had been previously convicted of six felonies, including residential entry, three separate burglary charges, resisting law enforcement, and possession of methamphetamine. These felony convictions prohibit Fleshood from possessing a firearm under federal law.
"Every person deserves to feel safe where they live and work. This defendant terrorized and violently robbed an innocent man at his place of employment,' said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers. "His violent, senseless crimes have no place in our communities, and we are safer with him behind federal prison bars. I am grateful to the FBI and IMPD for ensuring that he is held accountable for his actions.
"This sentence clearly demonstrates the impact and importance of the ongoing collaboration between the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. "This defendant failed to learn from multiple previous felony convictions and instead chose to continue committing acts of violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring residents feel safe in their homes, places of work and the community."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Fleshood be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Massa, 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.
