Milton Leroy Harvey III, of Indianapolis, and Deandre Leshone Williams, of Gary, are facing felony charges in connection with an armed robbery at a Lake Station Boost Mobile after investigators said stolen cellphones were later traced to transactions in Indianapolis.
According to court documents, Lake Station Police responded to the Boost Mobile on Central Avenue around 4:16 p.m. January 18, 2026, for a reported armed robbery. Police found an employee confined inside a rear office. The employee told investigators two men entered the store, one displayed a handgun, and numerous cellphones and approximately $529 in cash were taken.
The employee told police the suspects ordered him to put his hands up, place his face against a door and later lie on the floor before confining him inside the office. Surveillance footage allegedly showed one suspect displaying what appeared to be a handgun while the second suspect handled property and assisted in removing items from the store.
As the investigation continued, detectives obtained a list of stolen cellphones and learned that numerous phones matching the stolen inventory had been sold through ecoATM kiosks in Indianapolis shortly after the robbery.
According to the affidavit, records showed Harvey conducted nine separate cellphone transactions between January 19 and February 3. Records associated with the transactions allegedly included photographs of Harvey, his driver’s license information, signature and fingerprint verification.
Investigators said multiple phones sold by Harvey were confirmed as stolen from the Lake Station Boost Mobile, while additional phones matched other devices on the store’s stolen inventory list.
Police noted that several of Harvey’s transactions occurred January 19, within hours of the robbery. Surveillance from the transactions allegedly showed Harvey wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white drawstrings, jeans, black-and-white shoes and a winter cap. Investigators said Harvey’s appearance was consistent with one of the suspects captured on the robbery surveillance footage.
Investigators also associated a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the transactions. Camera records allegedly showed a matching vehicle in the Lake County area before the robbery and in the Indianapolis area while Harvey was conducting transactions involving phones stolen from the Boost Mobile.
Court documents state Williams has a previous 2020 armed robbery conviction in Monroe County, Indiana.
Charges filed September 4, 2026:
Milton Leroy Harvey III
Armed Robbery — Level 3 Felony
Criminal Confinement While Armed With a Deadly Weapon — Level 3 Felony
Deandre Leshone Williams
Armed Robbery — Level 3 Felony
Criminal Confinement While Armed With a Deadly Weapon — Level 3 Felony
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon — Level 4 Felony
