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Devine Campbell, 19, Sentenced to 15 Years for Armed Robbery of B&M Market
In a shocking turn of events, a Mercer County teen has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the armed robbery of the B&M Market in Farrell, PA. Devine Campbell, 19, of Farrell, pleaded guilty to violating federal Hobbs Act conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery laws on January 16.
The crime took place on December 20, 2011, when Campbell, then just 17 years old, robbed the convenience store along with an accomplice, Joshua Stewart. Campbell brandished a .22 caliber handgun, fired two rounds to scare the proprietor, and then forced the store owner to open his register and hand over over $100 in cash. Stewart, who served as a lookout, stole cigarettes from the store.
But the crime didn’t end there. Campbell shot the store owner once in the hip as he backed away from him. The bullet remains lodged in the store owner’s hip to this day. Campbell and Stewart then fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of destruction and fear.
Campbell’s accomplice, Joshua Stewart, has pleaded not guilty to the robbery charges. However, Campbell’s fate was sealed when he waived his right to a juvenile proceeding and agreed to be prosecuted as an adult. He then pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry.
As part of his plea agreement, Campbell waived a pre-sentence report and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, 10 years of this sentence will be served concurrently with Campbell’s state court sentence of 35 years to life imprisonment for second-degree murder. In November 2013, a jury in Mercer County convicted Campbell of participating in the murder of local bar owner William Basilone.
The remaining five years of Campbell’s federal sentence will be served consecutively to his state court murder sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southwest Mercer County Police, and the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office conducting the investigation that led to Campbell’s prosecution.
Campbell’s sentence is a stark reminder of the harsh consequences of committing violent crimes. As a society, we must work together to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place. But for Campbell, it’s too late. He will now spend the next 15 years behind bars, a fate that could have been avoided if he had chosen a different path in life.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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