Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Prostituting a Minor

NORFOLK, Va. – Cordario Marcell Uzzle, 23, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for sex trafficking of a child.  He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

Uzzle pleaded guilty on February 19.  According to court documents, Uzzle was a member of a set of the Bloods street gang based in Virginia Beach.  Along with several other Bloods gang members, Uzzle prostituted a 16 year-old foster-care runaway over a two-week period in the fall of 2015.  The girl was forced to work for several different gang members, and performed commercial sex acts from hotels in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.  Uzzle posted prostitution advertisements on the Internet, rented rooms in which prostitution appointments were performed, collected the proceeds earned, and carried a firearm to protect himself and his victims, as well as to intimidate his victims and their customers.

In October 2015, the sex trafficking ring was discovered when the 16 year-old victim was transported to the hospital after Uzzle violently attacked her.  As a result of the ensuing federal investigation, seven total Bloods gang members or associates have been charged for their roles in this conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minor and three other victims have been identified. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen.  Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty 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. 2:16-cr-2.