Blog

Oct 17, 2023

Southern District of Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS- Clifford Lewis, 20, Tyrese Turner, 22, and Calvin Johnson, 21, all

INDIANAPOLIS- Clifford Lewis, 20, Tyrese Turner, 22, and Calvin Johnson, 21, all of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Lewis was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison. In November 2022, Tyrese Turner, 22, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison. In June of 2022, Calvin Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, on November 12, 2020, at approximately 7:03 pm, Johnson and Lewis entered a T-Mobile store on Pendleton Pike in Lawrence, Indiana. Both men approached an employee at the display counter and inquired about switching a service plan. As the employee began to help them, he noticed that Lewis had a pistol secured in a holster in his waistband.

Johnson and Lewis then approached a second employee as Turner entered the business carrying a black backpack over his shoulders. Johnson brandished a semiautomatic pistol at the second employee and ordered him into the back room.

In the back room, the three men took turns removing electronic devices from the safe and placing them into Turner's backpack. Johnson zip-tied the victims’ hands behind their backs as well as their ankles.

Once the defendants were satisfied with the number of cell phones in the backpack, Lewis began wrapping it in foil. As the robbery was still in progress, Lawrence Police Department officers arrived. All three men attempted to flee. Johnson and Turner were caught and arrested in the store. Lewis fled the scene and was arrested on a later date.

Officers conducted a search of Johnson's person and found a Taurus 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol in his right front jean pocket. Officers located the loaded Glock 19 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol that was in Lewis's waistband in a ravine behind the store.

The total amount of property taken during the robbery included over 50 devices and amounted to a value of $43,804.30.

"Everyone in the Southern District of Indiana deserves to feel safe where they live and work. These three violent criminals conspired not only to rob a store of thousands of dollars in merchandise, but also to traumatize innocent people just doing their jobs," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. "Gun-toting criminals are a menace to our communities and will be met with consequences, as demonstrated by the serious sentences imposed today. I commend the FBI and Lawrence Police Department for their quick action to protect the public in this case."

"These convictions are the results of exemplary collaboration between Federal, State, & Local law enforcement agencies focusing their resources on those who engage in violent crime in our communities," said Lawrence Police Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff. "The community is safer due to these collaborative efforts. We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners at the FBI & US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their ongoing investment in these collaborations."

Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawrence Police Department investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered Lewis to serve 5 years of supervised release and Turner and Johnson to serve 3 years following their release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.

###