Twenty-Four Nine Trey Gangster Bloods Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Racketeering, Sex Trafficking, Robbery, Cocaine Distribution, and Multiple Acts of Violence

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Four members and associates of the Nine Tray Gangsters, a subgroup or “set” of the Bloods street gang, were named in an indictment that was unsealed today. The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, and multiple counts related to the possession and use of firearms.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police made, the announcement following the unsealing of the indictment.

“Organized crime threatens the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. “Arresting, prosecuting, and dismantling vicious street gangs remains a top priority of my office and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to aggressively prosecute and eradicate these parasites from our communities. Today’s indictment is indicative of our commitment to this critical work.”

“Today’s arrests send a clear message that violent gangs have no place in our community,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “While you may not see violence on your neighborhood street, gang members attempt to rule through violence and intimidation, a dangerous mix for impressionable youth within our region. Together with our partners in Fairfax County, the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, and other law enforcement agencies, we will work to eradicate violent gangs and bring their members to justice.”

“Gang criminal activity will not be tolerated in Fairfax County, and the police department will aggressively pursue the arrest of all involved in gang criminal enterprises. Protecting our great community is paramount,” said Chief Roessler. “We thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their partnership in combatting criminal gang violence with us in Fairfax County and nationally. This partnership, along with that of our many federal law enforcement partners, will endure to continue making Fairfax County a safe place to live, work, and visit.”

The following individuals are named in the indictment:

• Thaddaeus Snow, a/k/a “Storm,” 23, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Curtis Martino, a/k/a “Curtis Dodd,” a/k/a “Red Rum,” 29, of Elkridge, Maryland, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• William Sykes, a/k/a “Black,” 29, of Bealeton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• George Williams, a/k/a “Champ,” 28, of Bealeton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Markeith Kerns, a/k/a “LTK,” 20, of Summerduck, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Janee Yates, a/k/a “Alizia,” 23, of Warrenton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• Deontae Holland, a/k/a “D-Boy,” 27, of Bealeton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• William Sharp Manning a/k/a “Ill Will,” 24, of Warrenton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• James Watson, a/k/a “Black Kat,” 34, of Gainesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• Christopher Head a/k/a “Briss,” 25, of Washington, D.C., is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Nicole Yates a/k/a “Merlot,” 27, of Fairfax, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Candy Minor, 28, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Kaleef Tweedy, a/k/a “Bloody Tweed,” 23, of Dumfries, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Justin Finley, a/k/a “J Mo,” 24, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• Stephon Greene a/k/a “Blitz,” 21, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• LaTonya Snow, a/k/a “Lady Dynasty,” 30, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
• Devante Jordan, a/k/a “Trey,” 21, of Alexandria, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Aayron Marshal, a/k/a “Mook ,” 23, of Warrenton, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Joshua Pendleton Brooks a/k/a “Wacko,” 27, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Lionel Ritchie, a/k/a “Boogie,” 29, of Remington, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Jameel Aleem, a/k/a “Nino B,” 32, of Washington, D.C., is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Antawn Minor, a/k/a “Noid,” 33, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Deyonka Gaskins, 29, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Gracier Isique, 28, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

All the defendants face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

According to the indictment, the Nine Trey Gangsters are a Bloods street gang set of the United Blood Nation that was founded in New York City in the early 1970s. Thaddaeus Snow and Curtis Martino led two “line-ups” of the Nine Trey Gangsters, which operated as a criminal enterprise in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. The indictment alleges that from 2008 until the date of the indictment, Martino’s and Snow’s line-ups of Nine Trey gangsters engaged in racketeering activity involving the transportation and prostitution of women using force and coercion in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, and elsewhere; the commission of robberies; and the distribution of cocaine, crack, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, and prescription painkillers. The indictment also alleges that the Nine Trey Gangsters dealt in counterfeit United States currency and used counterfeit currency to finance wholesale drug purchases.

Further, the indictment alleges several acts of violence undertaken by gang members. On or about April 1, 2010, according to the indictment, Snow directed Nine Trey Gangsters to give a female victim a “buck-fifty,” consisting of slashing the face with a knife from mouth to ear with the aim of requiring 150 stiches to close the wound, because the woman had stolen proceeds of the gang’s drug sales. The slashing was allegedly carried out by defendants Janee Yates and William Sykes. The indictment also alleges that Nine Trey gangsters committed a shooting on April 12, 2010, after the shooting victims became involved in a dispute with one of the gang members; that defendants slapped, beat, and choked prostitutes when they refused to see customers or did not earn enough money; and that Nine Trey Gangsters also beat a fellow gang member to discipline him for trying to leave the gang.

The 24 defendants charged in this indictment brings the total number of Nine Trey Gangster gang members and associates recently charged in the Eastern District of Virginia to 32. On April 2, 2013, an indictment was filed in Richmond against eight Nine Trey Gangster gang members and associates charging them with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. All eight of those defendants have previously pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy charge.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Fairfax County Police Department, with assistance from the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, Hampton Police Department, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, Manassas City Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz is 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.

This case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Ruby Red, which has been focusing on the illegal distribution of narcotics by alleged organized crime members. 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.