Alleged “Dump Squad” Gang Members Indicted

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Ten alleged members of the “Dump Squad” street gang were indicted on a total of 39 charges involving a criminal racketeering enterprise that engaged in acts of violence, including murders, attempted murders, robberies, assaults, arson, witness intimidation, narcotics distribution and weapons violations. An eleventh individual, Tina Stephanie Whalen, was also indicted as an accessory after the fact to murder. A federal grand jury indicted the individuals on March 11, 2009, and the indictment was unsealed this morning.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Alex J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Division; James D. Fox, Chief of Newport News Police; Charles Jordan, Chief of Hampton Police, and other state and local representatives made the announcement at a press conference at the Newport News Police Department.

According to the indictment, the “Dump Squad” was a criminal organization that grew from a national gang known as the “Bloods” and operated in the Ridley Circle, Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court areas of Newport News, Va. The defendants protected the power and prestige of the enterprise through the use of intimidation, violence, and threats of violence – including the murders of Terrell Williams on Nov. 6, 2006; Tiarra Campbell on Jan. 17, 2007; and Tony Vaughan on Dec. 24, 2007.

The indictment states that members of the “Dump Squad” identified themselves by the color red, hand signs and tattoos, and they would boast about their enterprise in rap songs and postings on the Internet. At times, this gang also used the names “Slump Mobb” and “Bang Gang.” The indictment alleges the defendants confronted and retaliated against rival gangs and drug dealers and financially supported the enterprise by trafficking illegal drugs, including crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, heroin and ecstasy and through robberies. To protect the enterprise, alleged members of the enterprise attempted to burn and set fire to the Newport News Police Department’s High Impact Patrol Station located in the Harbor Homes apartment complex in Newport News, Va.

“This indictment should reassure the residents of Newport News that criminal organizations that use repeated violence and witness intimidation can be taken down and brought to justice,” said Dana J. Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Today’s announcement is the result of law enforcement at all levels acting as one team to fight street gangs in our communities, and we will continue to work together to pursue these cases.”

“The arrest of these 10 alleged Dump Squad members represents an excellent multi-agency effort achieved through the investigative strategies of the Peninsula Safe Streets Task Force, which serves as a model for the implementation of an effective anti-gang effort and one that I hope the citizens of Newport News and Hampton can rely upon,” said Alex J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Division.

“This is yet another example of cooperation and team work between local, state and federal law enforcement,” said James D. Fox, Chief of Newport News Police. “Our message to the criminal continues to be ‘we are coming after you’ while our message to the community is ‘we will continue to use all the resources available to us in our efforts to make this a safe city’.”

“This indictment reflects the commitment of our agencies in disrupting and dismantling criminal gang enterprises using the maximum power of the criminal justice system,” said Charles Jordan, Chief of Hampton Police. “Our pursuit in making our communities safer will continue by identifying additional gang offenders and bringing them to justice.”

“Our office remains committed to fighting gang violence throughout the Commonwealth,” said Bill Mims, Attorney General of Virginia. “I want to thank the brave law enforcement professionals whose dedication resulted in these indictments.”

All residents of Newport News, Va., the defendants charged in the indictment are the following:

• Edward Demond Davis, a/k/a “Cabbage,” age 24
• Martin Jay Manley, a/k/a “Buck,” age 21
• Latroy Antonio Urquhart, a/k/a “Troy,” age 25
• Cordero Bernard Ellis, a/k/a “Moosey,” age 21
• Twann Dominque Bugg, age 22
• Steven Anthony Davis, a/k/a “Cowboy,” age 25
• Rickey Irving Rice, a/k/a “Munchie,” age 26
• Samuel Leslie Bates, III, a/k/a “Dirty,” age 27
• Ty Ramon Davis, age 24
• Travis Tyrell Horton, a/k/a “T-Ho,” age 20
• Tina Stephanie Whalen, a/k/a “T,” age 22

This case was investigated by the FBI, Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Tayman and Robert Bradenham, II, are 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.

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.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.