Final Franklin gang member sentenced following murder plot

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The final member of a Blood-affiliated gang that operated in Franklin, Virginia was sentenced Tuesday.

Malik Trevonte Newsome, 31, of Ivor, Virginia, was sentenced to over 22 years in prison for his role in a murder conspiracy and a violent spree that span two years.

According to the Department of Justice, Newsome and other members of the Blood-affiliated gang were involved in three shooting between late 2017 and early 2019.

Court documents show that the group hunted down and shot members of a rival Crip gang after one of their high-ranking members was murdered by the Crips.

Two of victims now use colostomy bags after they were shot in their torsos. Another victim was shot in the hand and the leg.

A federal jury convicted Newsome along with two of his codefendants, Ronald Damone Jenkins, Jr. and Japree Lortez Brooks, in December of 2023.

The jury convicted Newsome of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding.

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