Russell Campbell, Firearms Possession, Washington DC, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Russell Campbell, 21, a D.C. rapper known as “Gizwop,” was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today for repeatedly violating firearms laws, despite a string of prior offenses and court-ordered restrictions. The sentence comes after a U.S. Secret Service traffic stop revealed Campbell surrounded by weaponry, cementing his status as a dangerous figure within the city’s criminal landscape.

Federal prosecutors detailed a pattern of brazen disregard for the law. In November 2020, Campbell was initially charged with carrying a pistol without a license in D.C. Superior Court. While out on release for that charge, in June 2021, officers discovered him armed with a loaded Glock 45 containing 23 rounds in an extended magazine near a gas station on Bladensburg Road NE. He later pleaded guilty to another charge of carrying a pistol without a license stemming from a shootout in October 2021, receiving a suspended six-month sentence and 18 months of probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

But Campbell didn’t heed the warnings. On November 11, 2022, surveillance caught him entering a vehicle with a green and black backpack – later determined to contain an AK-style pistol. A subsequent traffic stop by the U.S. Secret Service in the 800 block of 7th Street NW uncovered not one, but five firearms within the vehicle. Forensic analysis confirmed Campbell’s DNA was on the AK-style pistol and its extended magazine, loaded with thirty .556 caliber rounds and one in the chamber. He was a convicted felon, legally barred from possessing any firearms.

Prosecutors argued Campbell’s continued involvement with firearms demonstrated a clear and present danger to the community. They pointed to his affiliation with the “Fox 5 Gang,” a violent group operating in the 37th Place SE area of D.C., suggesting a connection to ongoing criminal activity. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, along with leaders from the FBI, ATF, U.S. Secret Service, and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), announced the sentencing, signaling a coordinated effort to tackle gun violence in the nation’s capital.

U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Campbell to serve 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang. The investigation was spearheaded by the MPD, highlighting the critical role of local law enforcement in disrupting criminal networks.

The sentencing of Russell Campbell serves as a stark reminder that repeated disregard for firearms laws will not be tolerated. While the YRA aims to rehabilitate young offenders, Campbell’s actions proved he remained a threat, leading to a significant federal prison sentence. The ATF and its partner agencies continue to focus on stemming the flow of illegal firearms and holding accountable those who endanger the public.

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