PITTSBURGH—A resident of Farrell, Pa., pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to charges of violating federal Hobbs Act conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Joshua Stewart, 20, of 1218 Roemer Blvd., Farrell, Pa., 16121, was 18 years old at the time that he robbed the B&M Market in Farrell on Dec. 20, 2011. Stewart, who is serving two life sentences for murder relating to the December, 2011 killing of Farrell bar owner William Basilone, Jr., pled guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court learned that on Dec. 20, 2011, Stewart, acting together with another, entered the B&M Market, a local convenience store. Upon entering the store, Stewart’s co-conspirator, using force and intimidation, demanded that the store owner open his register and hand over more than $100 in cash. While the co-conspirator did this, Stewart kept watch and served as a “lookout,” making sure that the police did not come in the store. In addition, Stewart stole cigarettes from the store. After these items were taken, both robbers fled from the store.

On Jan. 17, 2014, Stewart’s co-conspirator Devine Campbell pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery in federal court and was sentenced to 15-years in prison. Campbell admitted that he shot the owner of B&M Market during the course of the Dec. 20, 2011 robbery.

Subsequent to pleading guilty, Stewart waived a pre-sentence report and was sentenced by Judge McVerry to 10 years in prison. Under the terms of the plea agreement, this sentence is to be served concurrently with Stewart’s life sentence for murder. In September, 2013, a jury in Mercer County convicted Stewart of murdering Basilone. The remaining five years of Campbell’s federal sentence is to be served consecutively to Campbell’s state court murder sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southwest Mercer County Police, and the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Joshua Stewart.