NORFOLK, Va. – Three members of the 9 Trey Gangsters had been convicted in the present day by a federal jury for his or her roles in a racketeering conspiracy that included 5 murders, six tried murders, and numerous drug trafficking, theft, and firearms crimes that spanned all 5 cities in south Hampton Roads in 2015.
“These males inflicted excessive violence in Hampton Roads,” stated Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Performing U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia. “They brutally murdered 5 folks, tried to homicide six others, and along with promoting medication, dedicated robberies and different gang-related crimes. This verdict sends a transparent message to gang members committing violent crimes in our communities: You may be caught, and you’ll be prosecuted. Along with our federal and native legislation enforcement companions, we’ll proceed to aggressively pursue and prosecute these instances.”
In keeping with court docket data and proof introduced at trial, the 9 Trey Gangsters are a part of the United Blood Nation road gang. From roughly Thanksgiving via Christmas of 2015, the gang members murdered two males and three ladies, most of whom had no affiliation with the gang. One sufferer, Linda Lassiter, 48, alongside together with her boyfriend Wayne Davis, 48, was killed simply weeks after chatting with the police a couple of gang-connected capturing at her daughter’s home. The physique of one other sufferer, Al-Tariq Tynes, 26, was hidden within the trunk of his automotive and pushed round for days earlier than he was dumped right into a ditch in Chesapeake. His physique was not found till early 2016. Jamesha Roberts, 25, a younger mom of two kids underneath the age of 5, was gunned down in Norfolk after her shift on the airport Starbucks. Witnesses testified at trial that Nathaniel Mitchell, who was in a contest with one other 9 Trey member to see who may shoot the most individuals, killed her for “strolling on the incorrect facet of the road.”
“The 9 Trey Gangsters are a violent set of the Bloods that was answerable for a wave of cold-blooded murders that terrorized Hampton Roads throughout the 2015 vacation season,” stated John P. Cronan, Performing Assistant Lawyer Basic of the Justice Division’s Prison Division. “I commend our devoted legislation enforcement companions and federal prosecutors for his or her tireless efforts to face up for the 5 women and men who had been senselessly murdered by this vicious gang. Right now’s responsible verdicts – which adopted a seven-week trial with over 100 witnesses – be sure that these three members of the 9 Trey Gangsters will now face justice for his or her participation within the gang’s murderous conspiracy.”
“Right now’s verdict demonstrates the dedication of the FBI and our legislation enforcement companions to carry violent gang members and murderers absolutely accountable for his or her actions,” stated Martin Culbreth, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Norfolk Subject Workplace. “We is not going to stand by whereas violent criminals terrorize our neighborhoods and homicide harmless folks. I wish to thank the brokers, analysts, job drive officers, and prosecutors for his or her unwavering efforts to get rid of gang violence in our communities. We hope this verdict will encourage residents to proceed to return ahead and assist us present a safer Hampton Roads.”
“These males are answerable for considered one of Hampton Roads’ deadliest crime sprees in latest reminiscence,” stated Mark R. Herring, Lawyer Basic of Virginia. “In nearly one month, they inflicted dying and mayhem on their communities whereas making an attempt to settle scores and set up their positions of their gang. Hampton Roads shall be safer with these males off the streets, and I respect all of the laborious work and cooperation of native, state, and federal legislation enforcement and prosecutors that has introduced them to justice.”
In keeping with court docket data and proof introduced at trial, Antonio Lee Simmons was the top of a regionally primarily based “line” of the gang. After two subordinate members, Anthony Foye and Nathaniel Mitchell, had been arrested for an armed theft of a Shell fuel station on Dec. 27, 2015, legislation enforcement linked a gun and shell casing recovered after the theft to 9 of the crime scenes. Moreover, the identical getaway automotive used on the theft was captured on video fleeing the scene of a capturing on the Aqua Lounge nightclub in Virginia Seaside on Dec. 20, 2015. The 2-year investigation by Portsmouth Police Division’s gang unit and the FBI included a technological evaluation that tied the gang members to crime scene areas.
A complete of six defendants had been charged in federal court docket. Defendants Simmons, Mitchell, and Lassiter had been convicted in the present day of all expenses after a seven-week trial. Three different defendants beforehand pleaded responsible. See the desk under for added particulars.
|
Title
|
Age, Hometown |
Convictions (Counts) |
Sentencing |
|
Antonio Lee Simmons, aka “Murdock,” “Doc” |
39, Norfolk |
Racketeering Conspiracy; Heroin distribution conspiracy; Homicide in Assist of Racketeering (2); Tried homicide in assist of racketeering (4); Assault with a harmful weapon (3); Use of a firearm leading to dying (2); Use of a firearm throughout against the law of violence (5); Numerous firearm and drug offenses |
Two necessary life phrases plus necessary minimal of 160 years on July 19 |
|
Nathaniel Tyree Mitchell, aka “Savage” |
25, Portsmouth |
Racketeering Conspiracy; Homicide in Assist of Racketeering (4); Tried homicide in assist of racketeering (6); Assault with a harmful weapon (5); Use of a firearm leading to dying (4); Use of a firearm throughout against the law of violence (7) |
4 necessary life phrases plus necessary minimal of 160 years on July 17 |
|
Anthony Foye, aka “Ace,” “Bull” |
26, Portsmouth |
Homicide in Assist of Racketeering (4) |
4 necessary life phrases on Might 2 |
|
Malek Lassiter, aka “Leeko” |
22, Portsmouth |
Racketeering Conspiracy; Tried homicide in assist of racketeering (3); Assault with a harmful weapon (2); Use of a firearm throughout against the law of violence (4) |
Obligatory minimal of 85 years, most of life on July 18 |
|
Alvaughn Davis, aka “LB” |
29, Portsmouth |
Use of a firearm leading to dying; racketeering conspiracy; accent after the actual fact to homicide in assist of racketeering |
45 years on Oct. 17, 2017 |
|
Donte Brehon, aka “Canine Nutz” |
36, Norfolk |
Accent after the actual fact to assault with a harmful weapon in assist of racketeering; distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin |
160 months on June 5, 2017 |
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Performing U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia, John P. Cronan, Performing Assistant Lawyer Basic of the Justice Division’s Prison Division, Mark R. Herring, Lawyer Basic of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Norfolk Subject Workplace, Tonya D. Chapman, Chief of Portsmouth Police, Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Seaside Police, Col. Okay.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, and Thomas E. Bennett, Chief of Suffolk Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Choose Mark S. Davis accepted the decision.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Andrew C. Bosse, Particular Assistant U.S. Lawyer John F. Butler, and Trial Lawyer Teresa A. Wallbaum of the Justice Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Part, are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated as a part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Forces (OCDETF), Operation Billy Membership. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional job drive that provides supplemental federal funding to federal and state companies concerned within the identification, investigation, and prosecution of main drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to establish, disrupt and dismantle probably the most severe drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and cash laundering organizations, and people primarily answerable for the nation’s unlawful drug provide.
A replica of this press launch is positioned on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Japanese District of Virginia. Associated court docket paperwork and data is positioned on the web site of the District Court
for the Japanese District of Virginia or on PACER by trying to find Case No. 2:16-cr-130.
