NORFOLK
A federal court jury Friday found two Norfolk men guilty of running the Bounty Hunter Bloods, a violent street gang responsible for shootings, robberies, drug dealing and at least one murder during the past five years.
The jury determined that Mikal Mustafa Mix, 30, and Gary Lynn Toliver Jr., 23, were leaders of the Norfolk faction of the Bloods, an organization that originated nearly 40 years ago in Los Angeles.
Each faces up to life in prison when sentenced later this year.
The jury found Mix guilty of 16 felonies, including racketeering, robbery, drug dealing and being an accessory after the fact to a July 2007 mob murder in Ocean View. The jury found that Mix helped one of the suspected killers escape town.
It acquitted Mix of four counts related to a 2004 robbery and shooting at an Ocean View motel.
Toliver, who insisted he had gotten out of the gang, was found guilty of 36 charges, including the racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping, maiming and drug dealing.
Gang members testified during the two-week trial that the Bloods controlled East Ocean View, Norview, the Little Creek area and several other Norfolk neighborhoods.
A key witness in the case was Marlon Marquez Reed, 33, known as “Black Marlo” or “Boss.” Reed admitted on the stand he was a Bloods leader, that Mix was his equal in the gang and that Toliver was a lower-level leader.
Prosecutors said he and Mix started the gang in 1999 after Mix’s relatives from New York helped them get it going. The gang was run like a corporation or government, with initiation rights, rules and oaths.
But jurors apparently did not believe all of Reed’s testimony.
They acquitted a third defendant, Elizabeth Horne, of charges related to a home invasion robbery in which her boyfriend was burned with an iron. Prosecutors alleged that Horne set up her boyfriend that day last summer, but it was based solely on Reed’s testimony. Horne and her brother, who was one of the attackers, testified she had nothing to do with it.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Muhr and Sherrie Capotosto declined to comment after the verdict was read, as did Mix’s attorney, Lawrence H. Woodward Jr.
Toliver’s attorney, Rebecca Colaw, called the government’s case “weak,” citing the testimony of several witnesses who admitted they lied.
The jury, she said, “took everything as truth, and I’m disappointed they did that.”
Jurors spent roughly 15 hours deliberating after receiving the case Wednesday. The original indictment contained 76 charges, but the government dropped dozens of charges without explanation.
Security for the 10-day trial was tight. Gang members testifying were typically surrounded by U.S. marshals. As the verdict was read Friday, four marshals stood near the defendants and another three stood guard by the courtroom door.
The trial nearly didn’t get started. Two of 14 jurors were dismissed, leaving no alternates. One juror told U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman that she recognized one of the defendants, only after she had been chosen for the panel. The other discovered on the night she was chosen that her brother had been attacked by a gang. Both jurors were black, leaving only one other black juror on the panel. Defense attorneys called for a mistrial, but the judge denied it.
Testimony provided some colorful details about life inside the street gang.
Gang leaders and foot soldiers said they dealt massive quantities of crack and cocaine over the years but they were not users, other than occasionally sampling the product.
Reed, 33, the admitted gang leader, said he drove a Ford Expedition, often carried tens of thousands of dollars in spending money, drank $25 glasses of cognac at night clubs, and produced his own “gangsta rap” CDs, but never worked at a regular job.
After the July 2007 mob beating in Ocean View last year that left a 19-year-old dead and two others injured, one of the gang members used one of the victim’s cell phones to order a pizza, according to a detective’s testimony.
Albert Thomas, a relative of Mix’s who had been attending the trial, was arrested outside the courthouse for a probation violation. The violation? Being around gang members.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
I still fight back the tears . . .
When I think of that naive sailor (also African-American) who was lured to the gang's turf in Ocean View by a girl (well, he and his buddies were lured by several girls) and was beaten to death last year. That poor baby didn't stand a chance from the time he left his car and they came out and surrounded him. If anybody should be trying to get this element off the streets, it should be the African-American community because they are losing the bloom of their youth to it in these attacks that happen for the sheer purpose of beating someone to death. Still thinking about it, because as an officer, I always think of sailors, MGM
Why I hate lawyers
"Toliver’s attorney, Rebecca Colaw, called the government’s case “weak,”"
Obviously not, since the 2 "gangstas" were convicted.
"The jury, she said, “took everything as truth, and I’m disappointed they did that.”"
Obviously not, since the woman wasn't found guilty and one of the "gangstas" wasn't found guilty of some counts.
These people did their civic duty, and it looks like justice was served. What thanks do they get? Some lame-brain shyster running them down to the press!
I sure hope....
they provided the list of other gang members, names. If not, ship em off to Guantanomo. They're terrists, too!
Gangs provide a kid what lacks at home, A FATHER FIGURE!!!
Alot of crimes today are commited by adults who grew up in single parent homes. The chronic absence of fathers in children's lives forces a great & courageous single parent to work twice as hard to support the needs of that child. Now if a parent has to always work, who is present in the child's life to guide them? It usually ends up being some crafty character on the street who is in the very same family scenario. If you exmine Mix & Tolliver's associates, they almost all are missing a father in their lives. Statistics say that if a child has twp parents actively involved in their life, they are 10+ times more likely to be successful in their lives and not become felons. This is a chronic problem affecting the black community. It will continnue unless the community stops getting mad when Obama or Bill Cosby tells the truth. Gangs provide the love, belonging, & unity that children of single working parents cannot consistently get at home. Of course this isn't always the case as with all statistics. Mix's org. was there for these kids when the moms were working, I would put money on it. Add the gangsta rap scene and you have an incredible influence.
Maybe Richard should read all the posts before commenting
on KRM. It's pretty obvious that KRM was commenting on the previous post. I also grew up with lousy parents. My stepdad drove a truck and we typically ate what he transported because he stole it. I remember learning to duplicate his handwriting for my mother so I could forge his signature on things. I also remember learning as an 11 year old, how to siphon gasoline and how to turn the electricity on when it was off. I couldn't have had worse role models. But I turned out ok, because I knew what they made me do was wrong. The economy was bad during the mid-80s, so I went in the Marines. I haven't looked back since. I hope these two dirtbags get hammered, and never take another breath as free men. The sad part is that we glamorize their lifestyle, so our young people will always want to emulate them and there will be 50 people ready to take the place of every one we lock up.
Life in prison
would mean they would just continue the lifestyle there. Seems to me the comparison between gang members and sex offenders are simular. Many never can get away from it.
Parents?
KRM? did you even read this article? Um......theres no mention of parents.I have noticed alot of comments about different articles have nothing to do with the article above. Why do people comment on something they didnt read? Grandpa used to say "Sometimes its best to keep quiet instead of telling people how smart you are'nt"
KRM Thank you for serving
I don't believe it's all about the parents' parenting. Parents are the #1 seed in any child's behavior who else is involved in the child's life? My parents definitely were not the best they did us some harmful things growing up also poor but we went to church Grandma made sure of that. & my church family and teachers are who really brought me out to who I am today. You CHOOSE who you are because here in America you have the right because of KRM and others before & long after him/her serving. How you encourage & get the extra strength to spend time w/your children, after a LONG day. The sacrifices you make & allow your children to see each day. TV tough for parents with the language violence & sex. Money drugs cars sex violence a feeling of belonging. Gangs give this to members? Communities a support in our lives to help us give back this is GOLDEN don't just look at your immediate neighborhood go beyond the
WHY????
Why is it always blamed on the parents I know plenty of parents that give their kids all the time in the world and they still choose to throw their lives away.My next door neighbors parents were a police and a paralegal and gave them all the attention and tools to suceed in life and yet they still want to pretend to be from the HOOD!!!! me on the other hand I grew up in a shack with no parents just my grandmother until she died my seventh grade year and I was on my own yet I stii graduated and decided to join the military so my son would never have to experience that kind of pain!!!!
Good Riddance
Lock these two up and throw away the key. Make examples of them and remind anyone else who decides to be stupid and join a gang that this is what lies at the end of that path. Put their stories on the tv, radio, billboards--show the public that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Put their parents on display too, to show what happens when parents don't take an interest in their kids. Lastly, give credit to the law enforcement officials who worked this case--they are heroes.
Give em Life
Life in prison is the only justified punishment for these useless dregs of soceity. Death would be better.
Good Journalism
I greatly appreciate the Pilot and Mr. McGlone's thorough reporting on this disturbing story which impacts Norfolk and surrounding communities. As citizens we cannot make informed decisions and have meaningful participation in our communities unless we are well informed on the issues which confront us.
The Pilot's interest and commitment to assigning a talented reporter for coverage serve the community well. This investigation and trial was reported with professionalism and competence.
While I regret that there is a need for any crime story, this type of coverage and information is a contributing factor in my decision to maintain my subscription to my local paper ( The Pilot) both on line and on my doorstep in the morning.
Kudos on a job well done.