INDIANAPOLIS — A 29-year-old Indianapolis man was sentenced to 50 years in prison following his convictions for commercial robbery conspiracy, four counts of aiding commercial robbery and three counts of aiding the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Demetrius Campbell was convicted in June 2024.
Between July 19 and July 28 of 2020, Campbell orchestrated at least four armed robberies by luring the victims into an apartment complex under the false premise that they could buy items via the online marketplaces LetGo and OfferUp, according to the Department of Justice.
In the first robbery, the DOJ said three victims, including a 15-year-old boy, were talking to Campbell, who was using the account "Man with a Plan" (MWTP) on Offer Up, with the intent to buy an iPhone 11.
Court documents say Campbell gave the three a prechosen address in Indy to meet up with him to complete a fake transaction. When the victims arrived, the DOJ said three men, including Campbell's co-conspirator, Angel Montano, approached the vehicle, showing what appeared to be an iPhone 11.
Officials said the three robbers then brandished pistols, demanded the victim's money and hit the 15-year-old in the face with a pistol.
Documents say the robbers ended up stealing cash from the victims' wallets, as well as Nike Air Jordan tennis shoes that the teen was wearing.
In the second robbery, the DOJ said Campbell used the same Offer Up account to lure a mother and her two young children to the same apartment complex. Once there, court documents say Montano reached into her vehicle and placed the muzzle of a pistol against the woman's thigh and stole the the victims' iPhones and cash.
In the third robbery, officials said Campbell used the LetGo "Simone" to lure a woman to the same apartment complex under the false premise that she was going to be able to buy an iPhone 11.
When she arrived, documents say Montano brandished a pistol and allegedly said "I'll shoot you! Give me the cash!" She ended up giving him $560 in cash, as well as her Samsung cell phone.
Between July 21 and 28 of 2020, the DOJ said another victim contacted Campbell who was using the "Tony Reed" account on OfferUp about the sale of two iPhone 11 Pro Maxes for $1,400. Court documents say they agreed to meet on July 28 at a location near Adams and 21 Street in Indianapolis, and the victim brought his brother to the meet.
When they arrived, officials said the brothers felt "uneasy" and tried to leave. The DOJ said Montano blocked them with his car, approached their vehicle and fired into it. 25-year-old Yasar Jamal Oliver Burnett Jr. was killed. His brother was seriously hurt.
Documents say IMPD arrested Campbell the next morning after tracing his name and location to the fake usernames used in the robberies.
Authorities said they later found out that Campbell was coordinating the schemes with Montano, selling the stolen phones and splitting the profit.
In February 2023, the DOJ said Montano was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
“The man who was taken from his family by these vicious criminals should still be here today. His brother should never have been shot, and the other victims—including multiple children—should never have suffered the traumas inflicted on them by these men,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “For years, violent criminals have been using online marketplaces like OfferUp and LetGo to lure victims to armed robberies, resulting in multiple shootings and deaths... You often don’t know who is on the other end of an online communication, or what their intentions might be, and exercising caution with these transactions could save your life.”
“This lengthy sentence sends a clear message that any form of violence or exploitation on online marketplaces will not be tolerated. This string of crimes and the senseless death resulting from them are an unfortunate reminder of the real-world consequences that can result from crimes committed in the digital space,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service,and IMPD investigated this case.
