Jurors Give Sentenced Gang Member Something To Think About

Jurors had some fun recently when recommending a sentence for Randy P. Broward in a Newport News gang murder conspiracy case — including selecting a blue marker to fill out some of the paperwork in the case.

Broward, 33, of Hampton, was accused of, among other things, ordering three gang underlings to kill three men — a plot that was foiled when one of the gang members went to his mother about the command, and she got the police involved.

The 12-member jury gave him the maximum prison time — life plus 237 years — for the 20 charges. They also fined Broward $75,000 on four of the counts, explaining later that they chose that number because Broward forced a prostitute and gang member to give him 75 percent of her earnings.

Jurors also told prosecutors that they chose blue ink when filling out the verdict and sentencing forms — a bid to tweak Broward, a member of the Bloods gang, which favors all things red. Blue is the color of their bitter rivals, the Crips.

"They went out and got a pen that was clearly blue, like a magic marker," said Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Chad Perkins. "They wanted him to take that back to his cell and think about it."

Source; dailypress http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-nws-crime-notebook-0320-20110319,0,7960760.story

Two Men Wanted For Delaware Motel Robbery Arrested In Virginia

NEWPORT NEWS — An armed robbery in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Newport News led to a high-speed police chase that lasted more than 40 minutes on Monday night and resulted in the arrest of four Delaware residents.

The driver, a 28-year-old GianFranco Minello, is charged with reckless driving and evading police. Both he and the front-seat passenger, 30-year-old Randy Rickards, are also charged with robbery, possession of cocaine, and conspiracy and firearms charges. The two passengers in the back seat, a 17-year-old female and 44-year-old Kevin Payne, are charged with possession of cocaine. The female is not being identified to the media because she is a juvenile.

Holly McPherson, spokeswoman for Newport News police, said Minello and Rickards could face additional charges related to other robberies in Newport News. She said both men also have outstanding warrants in Delaware.

These are the two men wanted by Delaware police for the motel robbery in Seaford, Delaware (Nov. 17, 2010) in which Kristen Shockley of Pocomoke was arrested. Minello and Rickards fled the scene before police arrived.
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Missing Coast Guardsman's Body Located

NEWPORT NEWS

The body of a Coast Guardsman who fell overboard during an anti-terrorism training exercise was found this afternoon.

Crews discovered the body near the Monitor-Merimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel about 5 p.m., a Coast Guard news release said.

The Coast Guardsman's identity was being withheld pending notification of his next of kin. He was an enlisted man from New York, said Capt. Mark Ogle, commander of the service’s Hampton Roads sector.

The accident occurred between the Monitor-Merrimac and Hampton Roads bridge-tunnels at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday as high tide began.

Ogle said the guardsman was part of a team being trained in how to recapture ships that are taken over by terrorists. The crewman was boarding a buoy tender via a ladder as part of an exercise with the cutter Frank Drew when he fell in the water.

The guardsman was wearing a personal flotation device, but it’s not known whether it inflated properly when he fell in the water, said Lt. j.g. Scott McBride.

“We know he had on the same kind that’s a standard part of our tactical gear, but that’s all we can say right now,” McBride said.

A search for the man continued through the day. Ogle said participants in the search included the Coast Guard, police and fire departments from Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Norfolk, the Virginia Marine Police, the state police and the Navy. A helicopter and airplanes were also used.

“It is a difficult task to conduct any search and rescue operation, even more so, when it is one of your own that needs help,” Ogle said.

The missing crew member was part of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Team New York, which is based in New York. The unit is in Hampton Roads working with local Coast Guard crews.

www.hamptonroads.com

Bomb Threats - Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth

Courthouses in Newport News, Hampton and Portsmouth were evacuated this morning following a bomb threat this morning, according to police.

Hampton police spokeswoman Allison Quinones said that city's courthouses reopened around 11:15 a.m. The Newport News Courthouse reopened at 11:45 p.m. Portsmouth remains closed.

Kathleen Carey, spokeswoman for the Newport News Sheriff's Office, said two threats were phoned in to 911 this morning - one at 9:23 and the other at 10:01 - regarding bombs at courthouses in Newport News, Hampton and Portsmouth. The caller, who wasn't specific about which courthouses, threatened to bomb them at 10:30 a.m., according to Harold Eley, a spokesman for the Newport News police department.

Police in Newport News and Hampton have evacuated all courthouses, with the exception of the federal courthouse in Newport News. Portsmouth Circuit Court has also been evacuated. In Newport News, K-9 units arrived around 10:30 a.m. to begin checking for explosives.
In Hampton, police closed the blocks of King and Lincoln Streets and Pembroke Avenue surrounding the courthouses. In Newport News, police have shut down 25th and 26th streets as well as Huntington Avenue to West Street.

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