A Chicago man identified as Rumeal Campbell, also known as "Melo," has been given a ten-year prison sentence for his role in two armed robberies that he carried out with associates in Milwaukee. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper on February 19, 2026.
These crimes occurred back in January 2022, when, within a span of just over an hour, the 34-year-old and his accomplices struck two businesses, making off with more than $23,000. The details, which emerged from publicly filed documents, painted a harrowing scene as Campbell discharged a weapon into the ceiling during one robbery, and in another, he pressed his firearm against a clerk's back — all to coerce the frightened employees to surrender the cash. These crimes were not connected to Campbell until December 2022, after a separate robbery implicated the same weapon he had used.
Campbell, who faced his sentencing only days after pleading guilty to avoid trial, admitted to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. In her sentencing remarks, Chief Judge Pepper highlighted the "grievous harm" inflicted on the victims, saying that such robberies are "a form of torture," as the employees did not know if they would ever see their families again, and their mental anguish persisted long after the fact. "These sorts of robberies constitute a form of torture," the judge noted, calling Campbell's actions a "terrible, terrible choice."
"The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the gravity of these offenses and the lasting impact on the victims," U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel was quoted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr emphasized the commitment to "crushing violent crime and holding accountable those who threaten public safety." Meanwhile, West Allis Police Chief Patrick Mitchell expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort between the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in bringing Campbell to justice.
The FBI and the West Allis Police Department jointly investigated with Assistant United States Attorneys Porchia Lewand and Kevin Knight, leading the prosecution. Campbell now faces a decade behind bars followed by three years of supervised release for his crimes, marking a close to a case that shook the Milwaukee community back in 2022.
