GREENFIELD, IN – William Campbell, 32, is headed to federal prison for eight years after admitting to a brazen home invasion and subsequent illegal firearms trafficking operation. The Hancock County resident was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt following a guilty plea to illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Court documents reveal that on February 8, 2021, Campbell, along with an accomplice, forcibly entered a Hancock County home and pilfered a staggering 25 firearms. The stolen weapons weren’t kept for personal use; Campbell quickly moved to sell them on the black market, funneling more guns into the hands of criminals. To date, authorities have only managed to recover a mere 8 of the stolen firearms, leaving 17 unaccounted for and potentially circulating in criminal networks.
This wasn’t Campbell’s first brush with the law. He was already prohibited from owning any firearms due to a lengthy rap sheet including three prior felony convictions for theft and drug offenses. Despite this legal restriction, he brazenly engaged in the theft and sale of weapons, demonstrating a clear disregard for the law and public safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, led by Zachary A. Myers, made clear this behavior will not be tolerated.
“Trafficking of stolen guns fuels the violence that devastates so many families,” stated U.S. Attorney Myers. “Criminals like this defendant are part of the reason why so many firearms end up in the hands of dangerous criminals. The sentence imposed here demonstrates that those who violate our homes and endanger our neighbors will be held accountable.” The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with crucial assistance from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Beyond the eight-year prison sentence, Judge Pratt ordered Campbell to undergo three years of supervised release following his incarceration, a measure intended to monitor his behavior and prevent future criminal activity. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abhi Kambli, who successfully prosecuted the case, earned praise from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his work in securing the conviction and lengthy sentence.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to stem the flow of illegal firearms and the devastating consequences of gun violence. While 8 guns have been recovered, the search continues for the remaining 17, and law enforcement remains vigilant in their efforts to dismantle illegal gun trafficking rings operating within the Southern District of Indiana and beyond. Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Columbus Field Division, oversaw the agency’s involvement in the investigation.
Related Federal Cases
- William Bill Harlan Parker IV, Machine Gun Possession, MO 2016 · Illinois
- Mark Winston Pickrell, Gun Trafficking, GA 2018 · Rhode Island
- Jeremy D Stidham, Gun Theft and Sales Conspiracy, KY 2017 · Ohio
- Nathan Leary Kaiser, Gun Trafficking, IN 2024 · Illinois
- Gun Trafficking Ring Busted in Central Indiana: 15 Charged · Illinois
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