NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Antonio J. Fuller, 25, of Newport News, was sentenced yesterday to life in prison plus 240 months, following his convictions on July 16, 2014, for participating in a racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder with a firearm, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, firearm charges and a drug conspiracy involving crack cocaine.

Fuller was found guilty on July 16, 2014, following an 11-day jury trial. According to court documents, Fuller, along with co-defendants Kevin Ashby and Mustafah Kalil Muhammad, were part of a criminal organization known locally as “Thug Relations.” The gang members engaged in narcotics distribution and protected their criminal enterprise and activities through murder, attempted murder, witness intimidation and robbery. This criminal enterprise operated in the Denbigh area of Newport News. The jury convicted Fuller of the murders of Julius Johnson and Andre Horton on May 17, 2009, as well as the murder of Christian Hatch and the attempted murder of another individual on November 4, 2009.

Co-defendant, Kevin Ashby, was sentenced on June 26, 2014 to life in prison. The second co-defendant, Mustafah Kalil Muhammad, was sentenced on July 23, 2014, to 26 years in prison.

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; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Richard W. Myers, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Newport News Police and the Virginia State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard J. Zlotnick and Lisa R. McKeel, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt from the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Section, prosecuted the case.

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-72.