May 16, 2014

Eight Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—A federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville has returned an indictment charging eight individuals with federal racketeering, narcotics, robbery, kidnapping, and murder charges related to a string of violent episodes across Central Virginia that included the alleged kidnapping and murder of Waynesboro Reserve Police Captain Kevin Quick. A ninth defendant has been charged federally with obstruction of justice.

In an indictment returned under seal on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, and unsealed this morning following the defendants’ initial court appearances, the grand jury has charged the following:

  • Daniel Lamont Mathis, 18, of Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Shantai Monique Shelton, 24, of Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Mersadies Lachelle Shelton, 20, of Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Travis Leon Bell, 23, of Front Royal, Virginia
  • Anthony Leon White, 22, of Louisa, Virginia
  • Gert Arthur Lee Wright, III, 23, of Manassas, Virginia
  • Anthony Darnell Stokes, 32, of Manassas, Virginia
  • Devante O’Brian Bell, 20, of Louisa, Virginia
  • Leslie Hope Casterlow, 50, of Manassas, Virginia

According to the indictment, those charged today are either members or associates of the 99 Goonz Syndikate set of the Bloods criminal street gang. The indictment alleges that members of this gang participated in a pattern of racketeering from December 2012 to April 2014 that included violent armed robberies, the kidnapping and murder of Kevin Quick, the sale of narcotics, and the obstruction of justice after that incident.

Mathis, Shantai Shelton, Mersadies Shelton, Travis Bell, Anthony White, and Devante Bell are charged with conducting several armed robberies of both commercial businesses and individuals in Louisa, Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Fluvanna County, and Gordonsville. It is alleged that this series of robberies were conducted using firearms and were conducted to financially benefit the collective group.

Anthony Stokes, Gert Wright, and Leslie Casterlow are charged with obstructing justice by assisting other members of the conspiracy destroy evidence and elude apprehension following the kidnapping and murder of Kevin Quick.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Virginia State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Albemarle County Police Department, the Charlottesville City Police Department, the Louisa County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Waynesboro Police Department, the Henrico County Police Department, the Gordonsville Police Department, the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Fluvanna County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the Prince William County Police Department.

United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy, Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber, and Special Assistant United States Attorney and Louisa County Commonwealth’s Attorney Russell E. McGuire will prosecute the case for the United States.

An indictment is only a charge and all defendants are entitled to a fair and speedy trial and are considered innocent until and if they are proven guilty.