9237040085?profile=originalBy David Amoruso

A multi-year investigation into the Nine Trey Gangsters Bloods criminal street gang, a set of the East Coast United Blood Nation, in Virginia concluded last week as the final defendant pleaded guilty.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the Nine Trey Gangsters, designated Operation Ruby Red and Operation Full Blooded Ink, led to the arrest and prosecution of 37 gang members in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2013, resulting in a total of approximately 415 years in prison for the gang members.

Much of the criminal activity in the investigation centered on the distribution of narcotics in Virginia, Maryland and the D.C. metro area, namely large quantities of crack cocaine. The gangsters were also charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to distribute counterfeit currency, and possession and use of firearms.

With yet another successful operation against the Bloods gang authorities are showing they mean business and are taking these so-called street gangs just as serious as traditional organized crime groups such as the Italian and Russian Mafia.

“The ultimate success of this case is due in large part to the terrific effort of our prosecutors combined with our agency partners and case agents,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “My hope is that our efforts to investigate and prosecute these gang members will send a clear message to our communities: Violent gangs and their members will not be tolerated. They will be aggressively pursued and prosecuted at every opportunity.” 

Below is a complete list of the individuals who were prosecuted, and the respective outcome of their case:

  • Michael Smallwood, aka Heavenly Sovereignty, 45, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on April 9, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on July 10, 2013, to 30 years in prison.
  • Raymond Dawes, aka Veins, 35, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on April 23, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on July 23, 2013, to 12 years 7 months in prison.
  • Lovell Ritchie, aka Snax, 31, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on April 23, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.  Sentenced on Dec. 12, 2013, to 12 years 7 months in prison.
  • Amanda Ewell, aka Amanda Sovereignty, 30, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on June 5, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Sept. 23, 2013, to 10 years in prison.
  • Brynn Lackey, aka BEZ, 33, of Washington DC: Pleaded guilty on July 3, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Oct. 01, 2013, to 10 years in prison.
  • Thaddaeus Snow, aka Storm, 25, of Manassas: Found guilty at trial on Feb. 21, 2014, of various crimes, including sex trafficking, distribution of narcotics, robbery and counterfeit money, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, possession of a firearm, Hobbs Act Robbery, etc. Sentenced on May 9, 2014, to 40 years in prison.
  • Curtis Martino, aka Curtis Dodd, aka Red Rum, 31, of Elkridge, Maryland: Pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2013 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Sentenced on March 21, 2014, to 21 years in prison.
  • William Sykes, aka Black Gambino, 31, of Bealeton: Found guilty at trial on Feb. 21, 2014, of various crimes, including sex trafficking, distribution of narcotics and counterfeit money, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Sentenced on May 9, 2014, to 30 years in prison.
  • George Williams, aka Champ, 30, of Bealeton: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and use and discharge of a firearm during an act of violence in aid of racketeering. Sentenced on April 8, 2014, to 12 years in prison.
  • Markeith Kerns, aka LTK, 22, of Summerduck: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 16, 2013, to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Sentenced on Jan. 3, 2014, to 10 years in prison.
  • Janee Yates, aka Alazia, 25, of Warrenton: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2014, to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Jan. 17, 2014, to 10 years in prison.
  • Deontae Holland, aka D-Boy, 29, of Bealeton: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2013, to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Jan. 17, 2014, to 15 years in prison.
  • William Sharp Manning aka Ill Will, 26, of Warrenton: Pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2013, to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on March 7, 2014, to 15 years in prison.
  • James Watson, aka Black Kat, 36, of Gainesville: Pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2014, to conspiracy to commit racketeering with the predict acts being distribution of heroin, and marijuana and sex trafficking. Sentenced on April 28, 2014, to 2 ½ years in prison.
  • Christopher Head aka Briss, 27, of Washington, D.C.: Pleaded guilty on Nov. 25, 2014, to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Feb. 21, 2014, to 11 years in prison.
  • Nicole Yates aka Merlot, 29, of Fairfax: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2013, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Sentenced on Jan. 3, 2014, to 10 years in prison.
  • Candy Minor, 30, of Fredericksburg: Pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2013, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Sentenced on Jan. 24, 2014, to 2 years in prison.
  • Kaleef Tweedy, aka Bloody Tweed, 25, of Dumfries: Pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2013, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence in aid of racketeering. Sentenced on March 14, 2014, to 15 years in prison.
  • Justin Finley, aka J Mo, 26, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Nov. 26, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Feb. 28, 2014, to 11 years 8 months in prison.
  • Stephon Greene aka Blitz, 23, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on April 18, 2014, to 10 years in prison.
  • LaTonya Snow, aka Lady Dynasty, 32, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2014, to conspiracy to violate the Mann Act by transporting prostitutes across state lines. Sentenced on April 18, 2014, to 90 days in prison and three years of active probation.
  • Devante Jordan, aka Trey, 23, of Alexandria: Pleaded guilty on Jan. 14, 2014, to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Sentenced on March 28, 2014, to 11 years 8 months in prison.
  • Aayron Marshal, aka Mook, 25, of Warrenton: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 10, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Jan. 17, 2014, to 10 years in prison.
  • Joshua Pendleton Brooks aka Wacko, 29, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Jan. 23, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on April 8, 2014, to 5 years 10 months in prison.
  • Lionel Ritchie, aka Boogie, 31, of Remington: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Jan. 3, 2014, to 7 years in prison.
  • Jameel Aleem, aka Nino B, 33, of Washington, D.C.: Pleaded guilty on Nov. 12, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Dec. 12, 2014, to 3 years 4 months in prison.
  • Antwan Minor, aka Noid, 35, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2013, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced on Jan. 17, 2014, to 14 years in prison.
  • Deyonka Gaskins, 31, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Due to Gaskin’s lack of criminal history she was eligible for the safe valve guidelines for sentencing (which removes the ten year mandatory minimum portion of her final sentence). Sentenced to 6 days in prison and 3 years of active probation.
  • Gracier Isique, 30, of Manassas: Pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2014, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Sentenced to 3 years of active probation.
  • Ricardo Simmons, 26, of Alexandria: Pleaded guilty on April 21, 2014, to use and discharge of a firearm during an act of violence, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Sentenced on July 11, 2014, to 12 years 6 months in prison.
  • Abdur Roland, aka Boo, 27, of Woodbridge: Pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2015, to Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing of a firearm during an act of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sentenced on May 08, 2015, 13 years in prison.
  • Brien Hughes, aka Poncho, 32, of Fredericksburg: Pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015, to two separate charges of brandishing of a firearm during an act of violence. Sentenced on Aug. 7, 2015, to 30 years in prison.
  • Jonathan Coleman, aka Swagg, 24, of Woodbridge: Pleaded guilty on March 18, 2015, to brandishing of a firearm during an act of violence. Sentenced on June 19, 2015, to 7 years in prison.
  • Robert Bates, aka Kid, 27, of Staunton: Pleaded guilty on April 16, 2015, to possession of a firearm during an act of violence. Sentenced on July 21, 2015, to 5 years in prison.
  • Joshua Lewis, aka Smiley, 25, of Woodbridge: Pleaded guilty on May 26, 2015, to possession of a firearm during an act of violence. Sentenced on Aug. 14, 2015, to 7 years in prison.
  • Dajuan Burrous, aka Baggz, 26, of Dumfries: Pleaded guilty on Sept. 3, 2015, to brandishing a firearm during or in a relation to a crime of violence. Sentencing set for Nov. 20, 2015.

The case was investigated by OCDETF, Operation Ruby Red.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

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