Fed witness gives inside view of how Bloods' gang operates

NORFOLK

A leader of the Bounty Hunter Bloods street gang testified Tuesday that his chapter has 300 to 400 members who control drug dealing and other criminal activity from seven Norfolk neighborhoods.

"I've seen them as young as 9," said Marlon "Black Marlo" Reed, when asked how young some of his Bloods were.

Reed, 33, is the government's key witness in the racketeering trial of two other accused Bounty Hunter Bloods leaders, Mikal Mustafa Mix and Gary Lynn Toliver Jr. A third defendant, Elizabeth Horne, is on trial facing four charges related to the conspiracy.

Reed described in detail the hierarchy of the Bloods and how it is set up like a corporation or government, with a constitution, a pledge, disciplinary rules and a G-checking system.

G-checking, or gangster-checking, is how gang leaders test newcomers or gangster wannabes. If they fail, they are beaten, Reed said.

"You could get killed if you don't do what you're told?" the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Muhr, asked Reed.

"Yes, sir," Reed replied.

"This is serious business," Muhr followed.

"Yes, sir," Reed said.

Reed testified that he and Mix became the top local leaders after Mix established the Bloods about nine years ago in Ocean View with two relatives from New York who have not been fully identified.

The purpose of the gang was to sell drugs and rob people, Reed said.

Also, "for protection, for street credibility and to be part of the movement," he said.

The Norfolk Bounty Hunter Bloods have 300 to 400 members, split into seven chapters - in Ocean View, the Little Creek area, Norview, Coleman Place, Ballentine, Poplar Halls and University Apartments, Reed said. Except for Ocean View, which was considered the home base, each chapter was numbered - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. The Bloods avoided 6 because it represented the gang's archenemy the Crips, which also has chapters in the area, Reed said.

Each chapter held meetings, at least twice a month, at which members discussed their ongoing illegal activities and dealt out discipline when necessary. Reed said he, Mix and Toliver would hold quarterly meetings with members from all the chapters gathering in one location.

Reed admitted from the stand being involved in drug dealings, home invasion robberies and shootings. He said he once shot a man in the face for disrespecting him and threatening his mother.

Reed pleaded guilty in April to four felony counts that could net him a life prison term when he is sentenced this fall. He acknowledged in U.S. District Court that he agreed to testify against his co-gang leaders with the hope that his sentence will be reduced.

Defense attorneys latched onto Reed's plea deal in an effort to show the jury he may not be telling the truth.

At one point, Reed said he would tell federal authorities "what they want to know" in order to reduce his prison time.

Later, after acknowledging that he has six children ages 4 to 16, he was asked by Mix's attorney, Lawrence H. Woodward Jr., whether "you want to get out of jail just to be with your children?"

"Any parent would," Reed answered.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com