Three individuals, Ronald Jenkins,42, of Franklin, Virginia, Japree Brooks, 40, of Murfreesboro, North Carolina and Malik Newsome, 30, of Ivor, Virginia, have been found guilty by a federal jury in Norfolk, Virginia. The charges include conspiracy to commit murder and other criminal activities. The court documents and evidence presented during the trial revealed their involvement in three separate shootings that took place in Franklin, Virginia, in 2017 and 2019.
These men were either members or associates of a gang affiliated with the Bloods, operating in Franklin. The gang primarily focused on narcotics trafficking, but also resorted to robberies and beatings to safeguard their territory. In response to the murder of a high-ranking member of their gang by a rival Crip-affiliated gang, they sought revenge by targeting and shooting several members of the Crip-affiliated gang.
The three defendants have been found guilty of conspiring to commit murder in support of racketeering. Additionally, Brooks and Jenkins have been convicted of attempted murder in support of racketeering. Brooks has also been convicted of discharging, carrying, and using a firearm during a violent crime, while Jenkins has been convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Furthermore, both Brooks and Newsome have been found guilty of witness tampering. Jenkins could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and is set to be sentenced on April 16, 2024. On the other hand, Brooks faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, with a potential life sentence, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2024.
Lastly, Newsome could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison and is expected to receive their sentence on April 23, 2024. The final decision on their sentences will be made by a federal district court judge, who will take into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The announcement was made by a team of dedicated law enforcement officials, including Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, Chief Steve Patterson, and Sheriff Josh Wyche Sr. These individuals, representing the Justice Department, ATF, HSI, Franklin Police Department, and Southampton County Sheriff's Office, worked together to investigate the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor, with valuable assistance from legal intern Madison Albrecht. They are part of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and the Eastern District of Virginia.
It is important to note that this operation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. OCDETF is a collaborative effort that aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States. This program utilizes a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, and multi-agency approach to combat organized crime.
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