Terre Haute Man Charged with Hobbs Act Robberies

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Indiana
10 January 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTH BEND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced an 8-count indictment against Rex Hammond, age 53, of Terre Haute, Indiana for 5-counts of Hobbs Act robbery, 2 counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and 1 count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to documents in this case, Hammond allegedly committed a string of robberies by holding employees of businesses, listed below, against their will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, immediate or future, by brandishing a firearm on the following dates and towns located in the Northern District:
Count 1- October 6, 2017, Gas Station in Logansport, Indiana
Count 2- October 7, 2017, Gas Station in Peru, Indiana
Count 3- October 9, 2017, Gas Station in Auburn, Indiana
Count 4- October 25, 2017, Gas Station in Decatur, Indiana
Count 5- October 27, 2017, Liquor Store in Logansport, Indiana.

Hammond also is being charged in Count 6 and 7 of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence for the robberies that occurred on October 6th and 7th. In Count 8, Hammond is being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “Federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation make these type of investigations possible.”

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Logansport Police Department, Peru Police Department, Indiana State Police, Auburn Police Department, Portage Michigan Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo Michigan Department of Public Safety, Decatur Police Department, and Marshall County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, Miami County Prosecutor’s Office, DeKalb County Prosecutor’s Office, Adams County Prosecutor’s Office, Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office, and Coldwater Michigan Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.