Virginia Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Role in Blood-Affiliated Murder Plot

NORFOLK, Va. – A Franklin area man was sentenced today to 22 years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes.

Malik Trevonte Newsome, aka “Red,” “Redd,” and “Hitman Red,” 31, of Ivor, Virginia, was the final defendant sentenced for his role in a violent spree committed by members and associates of a Blood-affiliated criminal Enterprise that operated in and around Franklin, Virginia.

Newsome; Ronald Damone Jenkins, Jr., aka “G,” 42, of Franklin; Japree Lortez Brooks, aka “Choppa,” and “Primo,” 40, of Murfreesboro, North Carolina; Montrail Je’Quan Manley, aka “Yay,” 28, of Portsmouth; and Deon Dominick Sykes, aka “Animal,” 35, of Franklin, participated in three shootings between late 2017 and early 2019.

When a high-ranking member of the Enterprise was murdered by a rival Crip-affiliated gang, the group hunted down and shot members and associates of the Crip gang. One of the victims was shot in the hand and leg, two other victims sustained gunshots to their torsos, leaving each with colostomy bags and other permanent injuries.

A federal jury convicted Newsome, Jenkins, and Brooks on December 11, 2023. Newsome was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding.

Jenkins was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On April 16, 2024, Jenkins was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Brooks was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding. On April 18, 2024, Brooks was sentenced to 35 years in prison, plus an additional year for a violation of conditions of supervised release in a separate matter.