Another “Dump Squad” Gang Member Pleads Guilty
Fifteen Gang Members Convicted Since March 2009
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 21, 2010 |
NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Monquay Williams, 21, of Newport News, Va., pled guilty today to conspiracy to engage in racketeering, aiding and abetting assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Williams is the 15th member of the “Dump Squad” street gang to be convicted since March 2009.
Neil H. MacBride, 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; and Howard E. Gwynn, Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller.
Williams, along with five co-defendants also from Newport News, were indicted in June of this year for their alleged violent activities associated with being members of a street gang called the “Dump Squad,” a criminal organization that operated in the Ridley Circle, Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court areas of Newport News. The gang members established the power of their gang through violence, including the murders of Rashed Caudle on Aug. 9, 2003 and Lorenzo Thomas on Sept. 12, 2005. The indictment charged the defendants with financially supporting the enterprise by trafficking illegal drugs including crack cocaine and marijuana. Williams sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2011 in Norfolk.
Since September 2010, four of his co-defendants have also pled guilty:
- Haywood Lockhart, 22, pled guilty on Sept. 13, 2010, to his participation in a drug conspiracy. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2010 in Norfolk.
- Jayson Bryant, 20, also pled guilty on Sept. 13, 2010, to his participation in a racketeering conspiracy and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2010 in Norfolk.
- Darryl Vaughn, 22, pled guilty on Sept. 28, 2010, to his participation in the racketeering conspiracy and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. His sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2011 in Norfolk.
- Kevin Vaughn, 23, pled guilty on Oct. 19, 2010 to aiding and abetting assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and discharging of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. His sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2011 in Norfolk.
Each defendant faces a penalty of 20 years and up to life in prison depending on their plea.
In addition, the June 2010 indictment connects defendants to some alleged acts in a March 2009 indictment of 11 Dump Squad gang members, all of whom pled guilty. These acts include the conspiracy to murder Tony Vaughan on Dec. 24, 2007, and the attempt 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 case was investigated by the FBI, Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Howard Zlotnick and Robert Bradenham II, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Valerie Muth from the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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.