Alleged Bounty Hunter Bloods Founder, Top Leadership, and Other Members Arrested on Murder, Robbery, and Drug Charges

NORFOLK, VA—Eleven members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods/Nine Tech Gangsters street gang have been charged in a 59-count indictment for their roles supporting a criminal racketeering enterprise that engaged in murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, assaults, and narcotics trafficking.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Alex J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI's Norfolk Division; Edward G. Hargis, Portsmouth Chief of Police; and Earle Mobley, Commonwealth Attorney for Portsmouth, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed and those charged were in custody.

“The indictment portrays a criminal enterprise that is violent, organized, and brazen—and one which poses a clear and present danger to these communities,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Today’s arrests represent the latest salvo in our coordinated local-state-federal campaign to rid our Tidewater communities of the scourge of gang violence. The unprecedented crack-down we announced a year ago continues at full speed. Together, our partnership has made significant progress in cleaning up the streets of Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Chesapeake.”

“Today’s arrests embody an overall anti-gang strategy implemented through the FBI’s Tidewater Violent Crime Task Force in which local, state, and federal agencies work together to identify and investigate violent street gangs,” said FBI SAC Turner. “Through the efforts of the Portsmouth Police Department, the Commonwealth Attorney of Portsmouth, the Virginia State Police, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Norfolk FBI, our hope is to bring those who choose the gang lifestyle to justice, deter their violence, and improve the quality of life for communities such as Portsmouth.”

“These arrests represent our continued commitment to reduce crime and improve the quality of life here in the City of Portsmouth,” said Portsmouth Police Chief Hargis. “The Portsmouth Police Department will remain vigilant and will relentlessly pursue those individuals who participate in these types of violent acts until such time that we can remove them from our neighborhoods.”

“We fight crime in Portsmouth as one team,” said Portsmouth Commonwealth Attorney Mobley. “We have a strong partnership with our federal and local partners, and together we are doing everything in our power to strike at the heart of violent gangs. That has resulted in a significant drop in violent crime and a more secure community.”

The defendants are alleged to be top generals, leaders, and gang members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods (BHB) and the Nine Tech Gangsters (NTG), who have been operating in various neighborhoods in Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Chesapeake, Va., since the early 2000s. According to law enforcement, they joined forces in a procedure known as tying flags to increase their joint influence and their ability to make money.

The indictment alleges their acts of violence include multiple murders, attempted murders, robberies, maiming, and assault with a dangerous weapon. It also states that members of this organization identified themselves by the colors red and black, the number “5,” the five-point star, hand signs, graffiti, and the “Dog Paw” tattoo, which consists of three dots forming a triangle on the upper right shoulder of the gang member. The alleged gang members are charged with engaging in home invasions, drug dealing, and violent retaliation against members of rival gangs.

Eight of those charged today are alleged to have been part of the racketeering conspiracy, including the following:

• Dearnta LaVon Thomas, a/k/a “Bloody Razor,” 24, the one of the alleged founders and a three-star general of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set in Portsmouth, Va. He is charged with 15 counts, including attempted murder, assault, and narcotics distribution.

• Kiwanii Edward Mosely, a/k/a “Ghost,” 23, is alleged to be a former member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set in Portsmouth, Va., and later a member of the Nine Tech Gangsters. He is charged with 21 counts in the indictment, including the double murder of John Trollinger and Ronald Trollinger, attempted murder, assault, and narcotics distribution.

• Jamyia Rashad Brothers, a/k/a “J-Black,” 23, is alleged to be a former member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set in Portsmouth, Va., and later a member of the Nine Tech Gangsters. He is charged with 20 counts in the indictment, including the murders of John Trollinger and Ronald Trollinger, attempted murder, assault, and narcotics distribution.

• Amaad Jamaal Brantley, 23, is alleged to be a leader within the Bounty Hunter Bloods set in Suffolk, Va. He is charged with eight counts, including attempted murder, assault, and narcotics distribution.

• Darius Demarco Prayer, 46, is alleged to be an associate of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set of the Bloods street gang in Suffolk. He is charged with five counts, including assault and narcotics distribution.

• Darren Antoine Pollard, a/k/a “Wimpy,” 34, is alleged to be an associate of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set of the Bloods street gang in Suffolk. He is charged with five counts, including assault and narcotics distribution.

• Tyrone Williams Jr., a/k/a “TJ,” 22, is alleged to be a former member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set in Suffolk and an associate of the Nine Tech Gangsters. He is charged with 13 counts, including attempted murder, assault, and narcotics distribution.

• Draindell Domonta Bassett, 22, is an alleged member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods set of the Bloods street gang in Suffolk and an associate of the Nine Tech Gangsters. He is charged with four counts, including attempted murder and narcotics distribution.

In addition, three defendants were charged with crimes related to the gang activity:

• Roderick Allen Cotton, a/k/a “Rod,” 23, is an alleged close affiliate of the gang who is charged with three counts, including an armed assault at an attempted robbery.

• Jerrell Ivey Woodley, a/k/a “Rell,” 25, is an alleged close and long-term affiliate of the Bounty Hunter Bloods who is charged with two counts involving an armed assault.

• Marcellous Cornelius Small, a/k/a “Peanut,” 23, is an alleged gang member who is charged with two counts involving an armed assault.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Portsmouth Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys William Muhr and V. Kathleen Dougherty are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.