Nine Trey Gang Leader, Enforcer, and Cocaine Supplier Each Convicted of Multiple Racketeering Offenses
Gang Members Engaged in Sex Trafficking, Robberies, Drug Distribution, and Violent Crimes; 37 Nine Trey Members Convicted Since 2013 in Alexandria and Richmond

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Thaddaeus Snow, a/k/a “Storm,” 34, of Manassas, Virginia, and William Sykes, a/k/a “Black,” 29, of Bealeton, Virginia, were convicted today by a federal jury of charges that included conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, robbery, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion, and firearms offenses. Jameel Aleem, a/k/a “Nino B,” 33, of Washington, D.C., was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.

Dana J. Boente, Acting 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 after the verdict was accepted by United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of life when they are sentenced on May 9, 2014. Snow faces a mandatory minimum of 0 years in prison, Sykes faces a minimum of twenty years, and Aleem is subject to a mandatory term of 10 years.

“These defendants and their fellow gang members threatened the safety of our communities by committing acts of violence, dealing drugs, and dehumanizing women through prostitution by force and coercion,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boente. “The 37 convictions that have been obtained against members of the Nine Trey Gangsters over the past year reflect the outstanding cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat these pernicious crimes.”

“The multiple convictions returned by the jury today send a clear message to members of these violent criminal enterprises: we will not tolerate your illegal activities,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “The FBI, through the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force and our partners in local law enforcement, will continue to track down and arrest these brutal gang members who resort to using violent acts in an attempt to threaten our communities.”

Snow, Sykes, and Aleem were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 26, 2013, along with 21 other members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsters street gang, on 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.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, 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 led a “line-up” of the Nine Trey Gangsters, which operated as a criminal enterprise in Virginia and committed criminal activity in multiple states. From 2008 until the date of the indictment, Snow’s line-ups of Nine Trey gangsters engaged in racketeering activity involving the sex trafficking 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 evidence at trial also showed that Snow, Sykes, and other Nine Trey Gangsters dealt in counterfeit United States currency and used counterfeit currency to finance wholesale drug purchases.

In addition, the evidence at trial showed that Snow and his subordinate gang members undertook several acts of violence. On or about April 1, 2010, Snow directed Nine Trey Gangsters to give a female victim a “buck-fifty,” consisting of slashing the woman’s 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 Snow’s drug sales and used some of Snow’s drug supply. The slashing was carried out by Sykes. Sykes and other gang members beat a man unconscious who may have stolen drugs from a gang member, and Sykes also committed a shooting on April 12, 2010, after the shooting victims became involved in a dispute with one of the gang members. Additionally, Sykes slapped and choked a prostitute when she concealed money she earned from him.

Snow, Sykes, and Aleem were convicted following a trial that began on February 11, 2014. With the conviction of these three defendants, all 24 individuals named in the September 26, 2013 indictment have now been convicted. The following individuals named in the indictment previously pleaded guilty, admitted their involvement with the Nine Trey Gangsters, and have been sentenced in federal court:

• Antawn Minor, a/k/a “Noid,” 33, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 168 months in prison.
• Deontae Holland, a/k/a “D-Boy,” 27, of Bealeton, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
• Markeith Kerns, a/k/a “LTK,” 20, of Summerduck, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Janee Yates, a/k/a “Alizia,” 24, of Warrenton, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Nicole Yates a/k/a “Merlot,” 27, of Fairfax, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit robbery. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Aayron Marshal, a/k/a “Mook ,” 23, of Warrenton, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Lionel Ritchie, a/k/a “Boogie,” 30, of Remington, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
• Candy Minor, 29, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She was sentenced to two years in prison.

The following individuals named in the indictment previously pleaded guilty, admitted their involvement with the Nine Trey Gangsters and are awaiting sentencing:

• Curtis Martino, a/k/a “Curtis Dodd,” a/k/a “Red Rum,” 30, of Elkridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
• George Williams, a/k/a “Champ,” 29, of Bealeton, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
• William Sharp Manning, a/k/a “Ill Will,” 25, of Warrenton, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• James Watson, a/k/a “Black Kat,” 35, of Gainesville, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering.
• Christopher Head a/k/a “Briss,” 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Kaleef Tweedy, a/k/a “Bloody Tweed,” 24, of Dumfries, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Justin Finley, a/k/a “J Mo,” 24, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Stephon Greene a/k/a “Blitz,” 21, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• LaTonya Snow, a/k/a “Lady Dynasty,” 30, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport a person interstate for the purpose of prostitution.
• Devante Jordan, a/k/a “Trey,” 21, of Alexandria, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Joshua Pendleton Brooks, a/k/a “Wacko,” 27, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Deyonka Gaskins, 29, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
• Gracier Isique, 29, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The 24 defendants convicted in this indictment brings the total number of Nine Trey Gangster gang members and associates recently convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia to 37 individuals. 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. Five other Nine Trey Gangsters have been convicted in Richmond for illegal possession of firearms and dealing in counterfeit currency.

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 Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam B. Schwartz and Dennis M. Fitzpatrick are prosecuting the Alexandria defendants on behalf of the United States. Assistant United States Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Adam B. Schwartz are prosecuting the Richmond defendants.

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.