FRANKLIN, Virginia — A federal jury convicted three men on Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes.
According to court records and evidence presented at the trial, three men, Ronald Jenkins, Japree Brooks and Malik Newsome, were members or associates of a Blood-affiliated gang that operated out of Franklin.
Court records share that the Blood-affiliated group engaged in narcotics trafficking, as well as robberies and beatings to protect their territory. When a high-ranking member of their group was murdered by a rival Crip-affiliated gang, the group hunted down and shot several members of the Crip-affiliated group.
One victim was shot in the hand and leg, and two other victims were left with permanent injuries from gunshot wounds in their torsos, documents say.
The three men face varying penalties, ranging from maximum penalties of 30 years to life in prison. Jenkins, Brooks, and Newsome are set to be sentenced in April of next year.
