Campbell brothers (criminal duo)
The Campbell Brothers Alvin and Arnold Campbell | |
---|---|
Born | Alvin: c. 1933-1934 Arnold: c. 1935 |
Died | Alvin: c. 2000-2004 |
Spouse | Alvin: Roberta (died 1983) |
Children | Alvin: 3, including Andrea Arnold: 1 |
Allegiance | Winter Hill Gang (associated) |
Criminal charge | Both: Bank robbery (1958) Alvin:
|
Penalty | Both: 5 years prison (after retrial; 1963) Alvin:
|
Details | |
Country | United States |
State(s) | Massachusetts |
Location(s) | Boston, primarily the Roxbury neighborhood |
The Campbell brothers was an American criminal duo that were active in
Early lives
Of the two brothers, Alvin Campbell was the elder, being between one and two years older than Arnold.[4][5][6][7]
In his
The Campbells' father, Cyrill Campbell, had a criminal record of his own.[9] Both Campbell brothers began being criminally involved when they were each the age of fourteen. By 1957, around the time Alvin was 24 and Arnold was 23, the two brothers were ascending in the organized crime scene.[4]
1958/1963 federal bank robbery convictions
Original trial
In 1958, the Campbell brothers were convicted along with Donald Lester for a July 18, 1957 bank robbery that occurred at a Norfolk County Bank and Trust located in branch in Canton, Massachusetts.[4][9][10] The three men were convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.[11] Federal Judge William T. McCarthy gave all three men 25-year federal prison sentences.[9]
The robbery on July 18, 1957 saw a heist of $31,618. Twenty employees and patrons had been locked in a vault by the bank robbers.
Appeal
The three men appealed their conviction. The initial appeal centered upon the argument that the Jencks Act had not been followed when Judge McCarthy refused to require the state to enforce a request for production made by the men's defense counsel for the production of Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that would have shown that a key witness to the crime had, in his original statement to authorities, only reported seeing two robbers instead of three. The defense counsel desired to utilize this documentation for the purposes of witness impeachment. In the appeal cases, the three men were represented by Massachusetts attorneys Melvin S. Louson and Lawrence O'Donnell Sr.[2][11][12] O'Donnell was already well known for his legal work in relation to the Great Brink's Robbery.[2] Roger G. Connor argued the federal government's case before the Supreme Court for upholding the conviction.[12]
An appeal was heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Argument for the case began on August 27, 1959. On September 15, 1959, the court delivered a ruling that denied the appellants petition for a rehearing.[11]
The appeal was next argued to the Supreme Court of the United States in
Arguments for the remanded appeals case before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit began on October 2, 1961. On November 7, 1961, the court issued an opinion that remanded the matter to new criminal trial before a new judge.[13]
Retrail
The retrial of the three men began on August 14, 1963. The case was presided over by Judge Charles Edward Wyzanski Jr.[14] On August 15, 1963, Lester was acquitted. The Campbell brothers, however, were not. In the Campbell brothers' sentencing on August 22, 1963, Wyzanski heeded a recommendation by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Koen to give the brothers sentences that were reduced from those that McCarthy had handed them. The Campbell brothers were given new five year prison sentences.[15][16]
1969 homicide trial and acquittal
Shortly after they completed their 5-year prison sentences, the Campbell brothers again found themselves facing serious criminal charges, this time for murder.[16] In 1969, when Alvin was 35 years old and Arnold was 33, the Campbell brothers faced trial alongside Dennis W. Chandler for the triple-murder of Guido St. Laurent, Carnell Eaton, and Harold King as well as on further charges of assault with intent to murder Ronald Hicks and Frederick B. Rose.[5] The charges included first degree homicide.[17]
St. Laurent, a blind man who was a
Both of Campbell brothers had been working as salaried employees at the Boston operation of the
Investigators had first been directed to the three charged men after Ronald Hicks, a
The trial took place in the
The defense, among other things, pointed out that one of the guns used to commit the murders was found three days after the murders in the possession of Ronald Randolph, a man who was shot and killed during a
In June 1969, the three men were
Alvin Campbell's 1970 conviction for conspiracy and sale of cocaine
By the time the 1970s came along, Alvin Campbell was regarded as possibly aspiring to ascend to the very top of Boston's organized crime hierarchy. Ron Wysocki of The Boston Globe wrote in 1972, "many street savvy people believed that Campbell's aim was to become Boston's first black leader of organized crime."[6] However, in 1970, Alvin Campbell and Dennis W. Chandler were both given 20-year federal prison sentences for conspiracy and selling cocaine.[6][1] Dennis W. Chandler was later shot to death outside of his home in Roxbury on November 25, 1977.[1]
Alvin Campbell's 1982 conviction for gun and drug crimes
By 1982, Alvin Campbell and his wife Roberta had three children. Their eldest child was their son Alvin Jr. Their two younger children, son Andre and
On November 23, 1982, by which time Campbell was out of prison on parole, the Boston Police Department conducted a police raid of the apartment where Campbell and his family lived and arrested Campbell.[1] This ultimately led to another criminal conviction that would land him behind bars until his twin younger children were eight-years-old.[27]
The reason for the police raid was to determine whether Campbell had a connection to three different murders. While conducting the raid, the police found five guns, including a
Personal life of Alvin Campbell
Alvin Campbell spent half of his life in prison.
Campbell was married to Roberta P. Campbell.[26] Campbell and his wife Roberta had three children. Their eldest child was their son Alvin Jr. Their two other children, son Andre and daughter Andrea, were twins.[27] Campbell was sentenced to an eight-year prison stint shortly after the birth of his twin children, and his wife Roberta died in a car crash on her way to pay him a visit at prison. As a result, their children were raised both in foster care and by various relatives.[33][34]
Campbell's two sons would ultimately also spend time in prison.
Personal life of Arnold Campbell
As of 2012, Arnold Campbell was retired and living in Arizona, where his daughter also was living.[2]
External link
- U.S. British Pathé video report on Guido St. Laurent triple homicide (1968)
- FBI case file on Guido St. Laurent's murder
References
- ^ a b c d e f Article by Connolly, Richard J. published by The Boston Globe (November 25, 1982):
- Connolly, Richard J. (November 25, 1982). "Reputed mobster probed for links to three killings". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Connolly, Richard J. (November 25, 1982). "Police seeking ties between parolee, killings". The Boston Globe. p. 10. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Connolly, Richard J. (November 25, 1982). "Apartment was watched". The Boston Globe. p. 11. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Comeau, George T. (June 6, 2012). "True Tales: The Great Bank Robbery Part 2". The Canton Citizen. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Connolly, Richard J. (December 10, 1982). "State turning over Campbell case to US". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Comeau, George T. (May 24, 2012). "True Tales: The Great Bank Robbery Part 1". The Canton Citizen. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Walsh, Robert E. (June 13, 1969). "3 Defendants Deny Roxbury Slayings". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Wysocki, Ron (January 5, 1972). "Boston P.M. Army tells Winthrop burn homes". Newspapers.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ a b Walsh, Robert (June 13, 1969). "3 Accused of Murder St. Laurent Jury Deliberating". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Ebbert, Stephanie (July 12, 2017). "Andrea Campbell gained success despite early tragedies. As mayor, she wants to give all Bostonians the same opportunities that helped her - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "3 Men Get 25 Years Each for Canton Bank Robbery". The Boston Daily Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "High Court Upholds Bay State Wiretap Case". The Boston Globe. April 9, 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Alvin R. Campbell, Defendant, Appellant, v. United States of America, Appellee.arnold S. Campbell, Defendant, Appellant, v. United States of America, Appellee.donald Lester, Defendant, Appellant, v. United States of America, Appellee, 269 F.2d 688 (1st Cir. 1959)". Justia Law. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Two sources:
- "Alvin R. Campbell, Arnold S. Campbell and Donald Lester, Petitioners, v. United States". LII / Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School). law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- "Campbell et al. v. United States". LII / Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School). law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Alvin R. Campbell et al., Defendants, Appellants, v. United States of America, Appellee, 296 F.2d 527 (1st Cir. 1961)". Justia Law. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "3 in Retrial In Canton Bank Holdup". August 14, 1963. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Judge Reduces Holdup Pair's Jail Term". The Boston Globe. August 22, 1963. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Arrests". The Boston Globe. November 27, 1968. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Article by Walsh, Robert E. published in The Boston Globe (June 14, 1969):
- Walsh, Robert E. (June 14, 1969). "Manpower Program Featured in Testimony". The Boston Globe. p. 16. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Three Found Not Guilty In Roxbury Slaying Trial". The Boston Globe. June 14, 1969. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Carr, Howie (15 November 2009). "Whitey World A-Z: Guido St. Laurent (1935-1968)". Boston Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Suspects Refuse Visit to Slaying Scene". The Boston Globe. June 3, 1969 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Article by Taylor, F.B., Jr. published in The Boston Globe (November 28, 1968):
- Taylor, F. B. Jr. (November 28, 1968). "3 Men Charged in Killings at N.E.G.R.O. Offices". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "2 Suspects, 2 Victims Worked for Same Firm". The Boston Globe. November 28, 1968. p. 66 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ O'Connor, Brian Wright (3 March 2021). "Bombshell confessional letter links NYPD, FBI to Malcolm X's murder". The Bay State Banner. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "$60,000 Difference Found In Two Prices for Trainee". The Boston Globe. December 8, 1968. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Key events in the life of Johnny Martorano". Boston Herald. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Carr, Howie (18 June 2013). "Carr: Martorano's 'career' nothing to be proud of". Boston Herald. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ a b Walsh, Robert E. (June 12, 1969). "Defense Rests in 3 Killings". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Walsh, Robert E. (June 12, 1969). "Roxbury Trial Near Windup". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Andrea Campbell Announces Run for Mass. Attorney General". NBC Boston. February 2, 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Officials making check on guns while Campbell awaits court date". The Boston Globe. December 5, 1982. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Connolly, Richard J. (December 10, 1982). "State turning over Campbell case to US". Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ English, Bella (July 30, 2000). "Looney lawsuits leave justice up a tree". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Campbell guilty on gun, drug charges". The Boston Gobe. March 6, 1983. Retrieved 9 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve (November 1, 2022). "Mass. AG hopeful Andrea Campbell weathered traumatic family history". Boston.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ a b Jonas, Michael (4 February 2019). "The life (and death) stories that drive Andrea Campbell". MassINC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Massachusetts AG hopeful weathered traumatic family history". WCVB. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "Andrea Campbell". Boston.gov. 7 March 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ McColgan, Flint (28 September 2022). "Lawyer for alleged Boston serial rapist Alvin Campbell wants client released on bail". Boston Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Becker, Deborah (January 18, 2023). "Andrea Campbell sworn in as the state's attorney general". www.wbur.org. WBUR. Retrieved 14 April 2023.