Indy Man Convicted in Deadly Marketplace Robberies

INDIANAPOLIS – Demetris Campbell, 29, of Indianapolis, has been found guilty by a federal jury of masterminding a string of four armed robberies conducted through online marketplaces, one of which resulted in the death of E.I. The verdict followed a three-day trial, bringing a measure of closure to a case steeped in calculated deception and brutal violence. Campbell faces significant prison time for his crimes.

Between July 19 and July 28, 2020, Campbell systematically targeted individuals responding to online advertisements on platforms LetGo and OfferUp. Posing as a seller under aliases such as “Man with a Plan” (MWTP) and “Tony Reed,” he lured victims to an Indianapolis apartment complex under the pretense of completing legitimate transactions. Evidence presented in court revealed a meticulously planned scheme designed to exploit unsuspecting buyers.

The robberies escalated in severity. In the first incident, a fifteen-year-old boy, C.D., and his father, R.G., were assaulted during an attempted iPhone 11 purchase, the teen struck in the face with a pistol. A subsequent robbery saw Angel Montano, Campbell’s co-conspirator, brandishing a firearm against a mother while her two children were present in the vehicle, stealing iPhones and cash. Another victim was threatened with a pistol and robbed of $560 and her Samsung phone. These incidents, while harrowing, were merely preludes to the ultimate tragedy.

On July 28, 2020, Campbell, using the “Tony Reed” account, arranged a meeting with Victim D.I. and his brother, E.I., to sell two iPhone 11 Pro Maxes for $1400. As the brothers attempted to leave, feeling uneasy, Montano blocked their car and opened fire, killing E.I. and critically wounding D.I. The senseless violence underscored the callous disregard for human life that characterized Campbell’s operation. Montano was previously sentenced to 40 years in federal prison in February 2023, after pleading guilty to related charges.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers swiftly apprehended Campbell on July 29, 2020, tracing his activities through the fraudulent usernames employed in the robberies. Investigators uncovered that Campbell was coordinating the schemes with Montano, fencing the stolen phones, and dividing the profits. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the investigation.

Campbell was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, four counts of aiding the interference with commerce by robbery, and three counts of aiding the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt presided over the trial and will determine Campbell’s sentence at a later date. U.S. Attorney Myers commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany J. Preston and Carolyn A. Haney for their successful prosecution of the case.

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