Bounty Hunter Bloods Gang Member Sentenced for Attempted Murder

NORFOLK, VA—Draindell Domonta Bassett Jr., 23, of Portsmouth, Va., was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to participating in a pattern of racketeering activity (RICO) including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Bassett was sentenced to eight years and four months by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

According to court documents, in the spring of 2006, several members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods/Nine Tech Gangsters (BHB/NTG) street gang had an ongoing feud with a rival gang member who belonged to the Crips street gang. On one occasion the rival Crip gang member had shot a couple of the BHB/NTG gang members. As a result, Bassett and other BHB/NTG gang members searched for the rival Crip gang member in order to kill him. They spotted the rival Crip gang member in the Burbage Grant area of Suffolk, Virginia. Bassett and the other gang members chased after the Crip gang member with a knife. The Crip gang member jumped into an automobile of a stranger and directed her to drive off quickly. The BHB/NTG gang members caught up to the automobile before it had a chance to drive away and kicked dents into the doors as they made efforts to drag the rival Crip gang member out of the automobile. The car then sped away and the Crip gang member was able to escape without harm. Bassett was also involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys William D. Muhr and V. Kathleen Dougherty are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.