Sentenced: Two of three charged in armed robbery of Milwaukee grocery store learn fate

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two of three people federally indicted for the January 28th armed robbery of Mother’s Foods (formerly Magic Foods) on N. 16th Street in Milwaukee, have been sentenced.

23-year-old Joshua Mueller was sentenced on July 30th to 15 1/2 years in prison, followed by fives years of supervised released. 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.

27-year-old Sendrick Brown was sentenced on July 29th to 8 years in prison after his guilty plea to one count of aiding and abetting the discharge or a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Steven Bugni remains a fugitive.

The investigation revealed that on January 28th, Mueller and Bugni, both armed with firearms, stole money from Mother's Foods. Brown served as a lookout. During the robbery, Mueller shot a store employee in the leg, causing a 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department.

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