Career Criminal Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Two Indianapolis Businesses

INDIANAPOLIS- Alonzo Wiatt Sansbury, 56, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to commercial robbery and attempted commercial robbery.

According to court documents, on May 17, 2024, Sansbury committed an attempted robbery at a Dollar Tree near North Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the attempted robbery, he used fear and threatened force to attempt to rob the establishment. The robbery was captured on video surveillance.

Just a few hours later that same day, Sansbury committed an armed robbery at Big Lots near North Allisonville Road. Sansbury robbed the establishment using an object he insinuated was a gun, threatened violence, and obtained an unspecified amount of cash. The robbery was also captured on video surveillance.

Sansbury has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1989, including convictions for burglary, theft, and robbery. He was discharged from parole for a prior robbery conviction less than a year before he committed the robberies charged in this case.

"For more than two decades, this criminal has repeatedly demonstrated his utter disregard for the law or the safety and security of others," said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Repeat, violent criminals are a top target for federal prosecution, and face significant punishment in federal court. I commend the FBI, IMPD, and our federal prosecutor for ensuring this menace to Indianapolis neighborhoods will be off our streets for the next decade."

FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate 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.

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