NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Thirty years. That’s how long Desmond Finnell will spend trading prison food for street cred. The 30-year-old Black P-Stones gangster was sentenced today for a racketeering conspiracy and, more directly, for pulling the trigger on Ernest “Critter” Crudup in 2010. The hit stemmed from a petty beef over weed, escalating into a cold-blooded execution that finally caught up with Finnell.
Finnell pleaded guilty way back on November 15, 2016, but the wheels of justice grind slowly, especially when dealing with entrenched gang activity. Court documents paint a picture of Finnell as a lieutenant within the Black P-Stones, operating under the leadership of Michael Hopson between 2007 and 2010. He wasn’t just a foot soldier; testimony revealed Finnell was responsible for multiple shootings across Newport News and Hampton, cementing his role as a key enforcer.
The Crudup murder, however, was the charge that finally stuck. On November 28, 2010, Finnell allegedly lured Crudup to a location in Newport News under false pretenses. The motive? Finnell believed Crudup had ripped him off – stealing between 15 and 20 pounds of marijuana. A dispute over drugs turning deadly is a tale as old as time, but that doesn’t lessen the brutality of it. Finnell didn’t just rob Crudup; he executed him.
U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente and FBI Special Agent in Charge Martin Culbreth announced the sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. This wasn’t a solo act by the prosecution team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt and Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section built the case, meticulously connecting Finnell to the P-Stones and the Crudup shooting.
Thirty years is a significant blow to the Black P-Stones’ operations in the area, but it won’t dismantle the organization overnight. Gangs are resilient, and others will undoubtedly attempt to fill the void left by Finnell. This case serves as a stark reminder that even years after the crime, the long arm of the law can reach those who operate outside of it.
For those seeking further details, a copy of the press release is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia website. Related court documents can be found on the District Court website or through PACER, using Case No. 4:13-cr-96. Expect more fallout from this investigation as authorities continue to unravel the Black P-Stones’ network.
Related Federal Cases
- Tax Pro Bilked IRS for $1.2M, Gets 18 Months · Virginia
- Davis Gets 6 Years for Targeting Drug Dealers · West Virginia
- Coates Gets 4 Years for Credit Card Chaos · Maryland
- Wheeling Man Gets Three-Year Sentence for Illegal Guns · West Virginia
- Parks Gets 8 Years for Assault Rifle Stash · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News