The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
A leader of a violent faction of the Bloods street gang walked into federal court Monday facing a minimum of 50 years under federal guidelines, which are only advisory.
Dearnta Lavon Thomas walked out in handcuffs with a 15-year prison term after a judge found that handing down the recommended minimum would be "absolutely unconscionable" given Thomas' background.
Thomas, 24, pleaded guilty to racketeering and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Because of his criminal record and other factors, federal guidelines called for a mandatory prison term of 10 years for the gun offense plus at least 40 years for racketeering, with the terms to run consecutively.
Federal prosecutors called for a prison term within that range. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Muhr said Thomas was the second-in-command of a violent gang that terrorized neighborhoods in Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk. He cited Thomas' prior offenses for gun possession, burglary, destruction of property, robbery, larceny, and drug possession.
But U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson made it clear from the beginning of Monday's sentencing hearing that the range the government sought was not a "realistic assessment" of the case.
Thomas admitted in court to being part of the Bounty Hunter Bloods beginning when he was 16 and a high school dropout. He admitted drug dealing and committing a number of violent crimes, including the armed robbery of a Sonic restaurant in Chesapeake, a home invasion robbery and a shootout with a rival gang.
Questions were raised whether he was the group's "general" or second-in-command and the government conceded Thomas' argument that he was not involved in two crimes attributed to him because he was in prison at the time.
Thomas also argued that he was in the gang for only about a year before he was sent off to prison for four years. And when he got out, he left the gang, got a job at a fast-food fish restaurant and was helping raise his girlfriend's three children.
"I think this is an absurd recommendation. I think everything about this case is overstated," Thomas' attorney, Timothy Anderson, told the judge. "You would think if he was a three-star general he would have been picked up from prison in a limo. He wasn't. Instead, he was frying fish."
Thomas wrote a letter to the judge saying that co-conspirators made up stories about him to shave time off their sentences. But he acknowledged the crimes he did commit and said he is a different person now.
"I'm truly sorry for the things I did do," he wrote. "I ask you to show me mercy and I will show you I am a changed man."
Jackson said a co-conspirator in the case who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in two murders did not have as high a sentence range as Thomas did.
"That is illogical," Jackson said.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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gang
wow funny ppl talkn n dnt no why dey talkn
Oh, they know why they are talking.
You see, most people just aren't comfortable with violent career criminals walking amongst them. They want to feel comfortable that they can sleep in their beds without experiencing a home invasion, or go to a store and not find themselves in the middle of an armed robbery, or walk in the street without getting caught in a shootout.
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Racial, ethnic, group attack
The Right Sentence
The Federal System appoints District Judges for life. They have the opportunity to do the right thing, regardless of public sentiment and mob mentality that runs like wild fire in these public forums. Just keep in mind, when you are flapping your gums and opinions, you have NO idea what the actual facts are. This judge had a full background report prepared for him and was given every incentive to get it right. In Federal Court you have the most brilliant jurists of our time making calm educated and informed decisions. He considered all of the facts and decided that 15 years was the right sentence. Of course, you reading a 300 word article gives YOU much more information than the judge had to sentence the kid in the Court of Public Opinion.
Who knows?
This guy might make a really good naval officer when he busts out...I mean gets out...of jail. He could have his homies serve food at his family reunion and all his relatives could drive his gangster-mobile. Hey, works for me.
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Off topic
Reasonableness
The kid was 24 years old. He did not kill anyone. He was 16 when he entered the gang and was in it for 1 year as an adult. Seriously, how long would you put someone in jail for being in a gang? Did he do wrong? Sure. But according to what the Judge said, he dropped out of high school had no positive male role models. These were crimes he committed 5+ years ago. We cannot put kids away for life. We have to have some hope that someone can rehabilitate. Otherwise, everyone should go to prison forever. When he comes out, he will be close to 40. That's a long time in jail. Prision is for rehab and punishment. Not just punishment. Ryan Fredericks killed a cop and got less time. Keep that in mind when you post criticisims of the judicial system.
You are kidding, right?
I'm wondering if we read the same article. This is not a poor misunderstood youth! This is a violent career criminal!
Gun possession, burglary, destruction of property, robbery, larceny, and drug possession....violent crimes, including the armed robbery of a Sonic restaurant in Chesapeake, a home invasion robbery and a shootout with a rival gang.
Just string the punk up by his thumbs
for the rest of his natural life. Don't care what other sentences were. Let them all rot.
Along with
the punk who killed that cop and all of the child molesters.