Indianapolis man found guilty of committing several eastside pharmacy robberies

Used a firearm while committing robberies

Indianapolis-United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that an Indianapolis man has been found guilty in federal court on three counts of robbery and four firearm’s related charges. Dexter Fisher, age 33, was found guilty before U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson after a two-day jury trial.

This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s serial robbery unit and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force into a series of pharmacy robberies that occurred along and near Shadeland Avenue on the east and northeast side of Indianapolis between in August and September of 2014. Each robbery had a similar modus operandi wherein the robbery suspect would linger in the store until the pharmacy counter was unoccupied, the robber would then jump the pharmacy counter, brandish a loaded firearm at pharmacy staff, and demand opioids from the business.

On October 29, 2014, IMPD responded to a call from employees of the CVS at 5925 East 71st street reporting a suspicious person in the store who the employees believed had been involved in a prior pharmacy robbery. When IMPD officers responded and made contact with the suspicious individual, later identified as Dex (a/k/a Dexter) Fisher, Fisher became agitated, pushed a shopping cart into the responding officer and fled the store through an emergency exit.  As Fisher fled the store he reached into his waistband and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun.

Fisher was arrested in a nearby neighborhood along 71st street after a brief chase and search. A loaded, Smith & Wesson, 9 millimeter handgun and a number of clothing items were recovered along the path of Fisher’s flight. The clothing, handgun, and Fisher’s fingerprints were subsequently linked to a number of pharmacy robberies, including: the Walgreens at 7506 North Shadeland Avenue on August 4, 2014; the CVS at 6975 Pendleton Pike on August 18, 2014; and the CVS at 1530 North Shadeland Avenue on September 9, 2014. Testimony during the trial revealed that, at the time of the robbery spree, Fisher was living at a residence near 52nd and Shadeland Avenue. Additionally, it was later determined that Fisher was out on bond and facing drug dealing charges in Marion County at the time of the robbery spree. Fisher pled guilty to those drug charges following his arrest on October 29, 2014.

“My hope is that individuals who terrorize our neighborhoods using firearms and other means of violence get the message that federal law enforcement is watching closely,” said Minkler. “Those who continue this behavior will feel the full hammer of federal prosecution and become better acquainted with the Bureau of Prisons.”

“This individual endangered innocent people in his violent quest to steal the most commonly abused prescription substances in our communities," said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who commit these violent crimes and take them off the streets.”

“Because of investigative and collaborative enforcement efforts, significant strides have been made to reduce the number of pharmacy robberies within Marion County,” said Chief Bryan Roach. “Coordination with our federal partners continues to yield significant gains and sends a strong message of enforcement and eventual prosecution.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys’ Bradley Shepard and Matthew Rinka. According to the attorneys, Fisher faces a mandatory minimum fifty-seven year prison sentence and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. No sentencing date has been set.