Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993 TAG: 9302170144
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
DRUG GANG TRIO SENTENCED TO DEATH
A federal court jury on Tuesday sentenced three drug gang members to death for a series of murders in a crack cocaine operation.The jury, which deliberated for more than 20 hours in the sentencing phase of the trial, said Richard Tipton, 22; Cory Johnson, 24; and James H. Roane Jr., 26, should be put to death by lethal injection.
U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer will formally impose sentence on May 19. He is bound by law to follow the jury's recommendation.
The three Richmond men were convicted Feb. 2 of nine slayings in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise. They were sentenced under a federal death penalty law enacted in a 1988 revision of the Drug Kingpin Act.
U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen said he believed the sentence was the second time the federal death penalty has been imposed since the 1988 law took effect.
Attorneys for the three have said they plan to appeal the convictions.
A fourth defendant, Sandra Reavis, was convicted of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine. She will be sentenced April 14.
Richmond police named the group the Newtowne Gang because it operated mostly in the city's Newtowne neighborhood.
Police said gang members killed at least 11 people during a 45-day period in January and February 1992. Prosecutors said nine of the slayings were committed to enable the gang to continue its drug sales.
Police said the gang killed indiscriminately, slaying both friends and enemies.
A federal grand jury indicted the four defendants in April. Indicted with them were Jerry R. Gaiters, Sterling Hardy and Vernon L. Thomas.
Gaiters and Hardy pleaded guilty to various charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Both testified against the defendants.
Thomas will be tried on capital charges in April.