July 30, 2014

Two Men Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Milwaukee Grocery Store

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that Joshua Mueller, age 23, was sentenced on July 30, 2014, to 186 months (15 ½ years) of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in the January 28, 2014 armed robbery of Mother’s Foods (formerly Magic Foods) in Milwaukee. The sentence was the result of Mueller’s guilty plea to one count of interference with commerce by robbery pursuant to the Hobbs Act and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Co-defendant Sedrick Brown, age 27, was sentenced on July 29, 2014, to 96 months (8 years) of imprisonment after his guilty plea to one count of aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Co-defendant Steven Bugni remains a fugitive.

The investigation revealed that on January 28, 2014, defendants Mueller and Bugni, both armed with firearms, stole U.S. currency from the Mother’s Foods store at 2879 N. 16th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brown served as a lookout. During the robbery, Mueller shot a store employee in the leg, causing life-threatening bodily injury.

At the sentencing hearing, one victim spoke regarding the effect of the robbery on himself, the other store employees, and the business. He mentioned that several customers were in the store at the time of the robbery, including two young children.

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, provides federal jurisdiction for cases involving violent, habitual criminals who commit armed robbery of businesses involved in interstate commerce. Federal prosecution of these offenders is sometimes beneficial since the penalties may be tougher than under state law. To that end, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its County Attorney partners are working together to ensure that violent offenders are effectively prosecuted, making our communities safer for all.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath.