Twenty-two year old James Martin Harris, a/k/a “Bloody 45,” of Portsmouth, Virginia, pled guilty yesterday in Norfolk federal court to one count of racketeering and one count of possession of a firearm in a homicide. Harris entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge Jerome B. Friedman. Harris will be sentenced on November 9, 2010 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to court documents, the racketeering count outlines Harris’ involvement in various criminal acts as a gang member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods or Nine Tech Gangsters. On August 25, 2006 Harris and others participated in the murder of Darius Powell, whom they suspected had robbed a fellow gang member at a dice game in the Craddock area of Portsmouth.
Harris and three others went looking for Powell to retaliate. When they found him, two of Harris’ co-conspirators approached Powell, robbed him and then beat him severely on the head with a sawed-off shotgun and a handgun.
Powell was rushed to the hospital and died shortly thereafter from major head trauma. In addition, Harris was involved in the dealing of illegal narcotics.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake Police Departments, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys William Muhr and Melissa O’Boyle prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Local law enforcement officials have noted that the Bounty Hunter Bloods raises money through drug trafficking, robbery and burglary, and members perpetrate violent crimes such as kidnapping and homicide. The gang recruits members and their initiation sometimes involves a severe beating that lasts 31 seconds, known as “shooting a 31,” local cops told the Virginia-Pilot newspaper.
Norfolk police Chief Bruce P. Marquis told the Virginia-Pilot that as many as 1,500 to 2,000 people are associated with gangs, and the numbers may be growing.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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Comments
My home town, what a shame to see what is happening all across our country. When I was with the department, things like this were unheard of. Wake up America, look around you, report what you're seeing when you know it's wrong. Take pic's with your phone, make notes, put a stop to the crimes.
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