WASHINGTON, D.C. – Russell Campbell, 21, of Washington, D.C., is headed to federal prison for 30 months after being convicted on multiple firearms charges. The sentencing, handed down today, marks the latest chapter in a pattern of brazen disregard for the law by the D.C. rapper, known as “Gizwop,” and his ties to the notorious Fox 5 Gang.
The case unfolded after a routine traffic stop by the U.S. Secret Service on November 11, 2022. Officers pulled over the vehicle Campbell occupied in the 800 block of 7th Street, NW, and discovered a cache of five firearms. Crucially, a Zastava AK-style pistol with a high-capacity magazine was traced back to Campbell via DNA evidence. The weapon had been carried in a green and black backpack spotted on surveillance footage just hours earlier, as Campbell entered the vehicle near the gang’s 37th Place SE stronghold.
This wasn’t Campbell’s first brush with the law. While already facing charges for carrying a pistol without a license in D.C. Superior Court – stemming from an incident on November 8, 2020 – he was again found armed with a loaded Glock 45 near a gas station on Bladensburg Road NE on June 20, 2021. Then, four months later, on October 20, 2021, Campbell was allegedly involved in a shootout in the 200 block of 37th Place SE, earning him yet another charge for carrying a pistol without a license. He received a suspended six-month sentence and 18 months’ probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) on May 25, 2022.
Despite the prior convictions and court-ordered restrictions prohibiting him from possessing firearms, Campbell continued his dangerous path. The November 2022 traffic stop wasn’t a spontaneous event; surveillance linked him directly to the AK-style pistol before he even entered the vehicle. This demonstrates a calculated and persistent pattern of criminal behavior, according to investigators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia confirmed that Campbell pleaded guilty on September 21, 2023, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm while under indictment, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a felony.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper sentenced Campbell to 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI, with significant support from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi led the prosecution, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang. The U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division also provided key support during the traffic stop and initial investigation.
The sentencing of Russell Campbell sends a message, authorities say, that repeat offenders, particularly those connected to violent gangs like the Fox 5, will face serious consequences for endangering the community. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to curb gun violence in the nation’s capital and the relentless efforts of federal and local agencies to hold criminals accountable.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Press Release
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