High-Ranking Member of Black P-Stones Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Firearms Charges

NORFOLK, VA—Marcellus N. Williams, Jr., a.k.a. “Math,” “P-Shooter,” “Manny,” 27, of Newport News, pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy, as well as possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David A. O’Neil, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller.

Williams was charged in a superseding indictment returned on December 9, 2013, with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the racketeering conspiracy charge and a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years to life in prison on the firearm charge when he is sentenced on July 10, 2014, in Norfolk.

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Williams admitted that he was a member of a violent street gang called the Black P-Stones, also referred to as the P-Stone Bloods and Cobra Stones, which operated as a criminal enterprise located primarily in the Beechmont, Courthouse Green, and Woodview neighborhoods in the Denbigh area of Newport News. The Black P-Stones engaged in various criminal activities including murders, robberies, illegal drug trafficking, and obstruction of justice. Williams joined the gang in approximately 2002 and held the rank of first superior. As the first superior, Williams approved, planned, and participated in criminal activities, including attempted murders, robberies, attempted robberies, and drug trafficking. On April 27, 2008, Williams and co-conspirators participated in a shooting in broad daylight on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News targeting a rival gang member. Several bullets were fired at the rival gang member, wounding the rival in the right shoulder, right jaw, and neck areas. On December 10, 2008, Williams and co-conspirators planned a shooting in Williamsburg to retaliate against a rival gang member who exhibited disrespect toward Williams’ girlfriend. During the shooting, approximately seven to eight bullets were fired at the rival gang member’s home, with bullets entering the home’s living room and front door while two people were inside. On March 9, 2009, Williams and co-conspirators planned a shooting in Newport News to retaliate against members of the rival 10-1 Mafia Crips gang for damaging the reputation of the P-Stones. Several bullets were fired at a 10-1 Mafia Crip member’s home, with one bullet nearly striking one of the people inside.

The investigation of this case was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Peninsula Task Force, with the assistance of the Newport News Police Department and the James City County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Hurt and Trial Attorney Louis A. Crisostomo of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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.justice.gov/usao/vae.