HAMMOND — A Florida man has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for his role in an armed robbery targeting cigarette delivery workers in Hammond.

Andrew Wells Sr., 51, of Orlando, was sentenced Wednesday, Sept. 24, by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Wells, who previously pleaded guilty to robbery affecting commerce, was also ordered to pay $25,699 in restitution to the victims.

According to court documents, the robbery occurred Oct. 25, 2022, in Hammond. Federal prosecutors said Wells and another individual robbed two cigarette delivery workers of 11 cases and two cartons of cigarettes valued at $25,699 while a third participant held the workers at gunpoint.

Prosecutors said Wells had been employed as a security guard for the company and used his knowledge of its operations to help target the delivery workers.

“Instead of protecting his colleagues, he used his insider knowledge as a security guard to target them,” Mildred said, describing Wells’ actions as a violation of a position of trust.

FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley said the case involved workers who were targeted while simply performing their jobs.

“This defendant took advantage of his position of trust and used what he knew about the company’s operations to target innocent workers and put their lives at risk,” O’Malley said.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force and the Hammond Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean R. Lanter prosecuted the case.