NORFOLK, VA—Enrique Omar Hinton, a.k.a. “Rico,” 26, of Newport News, was sentenced today to 255 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for engaging in numerous criminal activities as a member of the Black P-Stones gang, including participating in a shooting that targeted a rival gang member, trafficking marijuana, and lying to a federal grand jury.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Royce E. Curtin of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Enrique Omar Hinton (a.k.a. “Rico”), admitted that he was a “foot soldier” in a violent street gang called the Black P-Stones, also referred to as the P-Stone Bloods and Cobra Stones. The Black P-Stones operated primarily in the Beechmont, Courthouse Green, and Woodview neighborhoods in the Denbigh area of Newport News, and its members engaged in various criminal activities, including murders, robberies, drug trafficking, and obstruction of justice.

According to the statement of facts, Hinton joined the gang in 2005, and as a foot soldier, he sold marijuana for the gang, carried firearms, attended gang meetings, and planned and participated in the gang’s criminal activities. Additionally, on Dec. 10, 2008, Hinton and others retaliated against a rival gang member who exhibited disrespect toward the girlfriend of a Black P-Stones member. Approximately seven to eight bullets were fired at the rival gang member’s home, with bullets entering the living room and front door while two people were inside.

Hinton also admitted that on July 13, 2009, he testified falsely before a federal grand jury to obstruct the investigation of the Black P-Stones and the Dec. 10 shooting.

Hinton was charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 9, 2013, and he pleaded guilty on March 28, 2014 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Peninsula Task Force, with the assistance of the Newport News Police Department, James City County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt and Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:13-cr-96.