Duprece Jett, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, IN 2023

Three men — Duprece Jett, 38, of Indianapolis; Damion McKissick, 38, of Fort Wayne; and Earl Lee Walker, 38, of Fort Wayne — were convicted in federal court after a five-day jury trial on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted bank robbery. The convictions mark the end of a violent crime spree that terrorized Central Indiana in late 2015.

The trio, dubbed the “Rick James robbers” for their long hair and sunglasses disguises, launched their crime wave in September 2015 with the armed robbery of the Advanced America Check Cashing Service on Georgetown Road in Indianapolis. They struck again days later at the Indiana Members Credit Union (IMCU) on Wesleyan Road, and returned in November to rob another IMCU branch in Avon, Indiana — each time fleeing with cash and leaving shaken employees in their wake.

Their final heist turned into a death-defying escape attempt. On December 12, 2015, Jett, McKissick, and Walker stormed the IMCU near East 96th Street and Grey Road in Carmel, only to be met by law enforcement. The robbery collapsed in seconds, and the three men fled, igniting a high-speed chase that tore through Hamilton, Marion, and Boone counties. Witnesses reported the suspects’ vehicle swerving through traffic, sideswiping cars, and running red lights at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

The pursuit ended near US 421 and IN 32, where police boxed in the suspects’ vehicle and arrested all three without further incident. Evidence recovered included stolen cash, disguises, and weapons linked to the robberies. Federal investigators later confirmed the trio had coordinated the attacks, using burner phones and pre-scouted escape routes to evade capture.

“The reign of terror for these three men is over,” said U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “Those who put our citizens in harm’s way and disrupt commerce in Central Indiana will be held accountable.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley P Shepard and Peter Blackett prosecuted the case, stating all defendants could face up to 40 years in federal prison.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Sentencing for Duprece Jett, Damion McKissick, and Earl Lee Walker is scheduled for May 2017. No prior criminal affiliations have been publicly tied to the group, but authorities warn the boldness of the spree suggests potential copycat risks.