Members Of VA’s “Corna Sto Boys” Plead Guilty
Yesterday, LaCharles “Boogie” Hodges (top right), Samuel “Pig” Gray and Charles Battle, Jr. (bottom right) pleaded guilty to various charges, in Virginia court. These men are three of six members of the Corna Sto Boys, a crack slinging crew in Portsmouth.
The Corna Sto Boys’ operation dates back to the 1990s, when a group set up shop at the corner of Elm Avenue and Fayette Street in Portsmouth. The gang’s name was based on an independent corner store that was at that location. It is believed they were grabbing between 10 and 15 kilos of cocaine from a plug in Mexico. The Corna Sto Boys eventually moved their operation across the street from Brighton Elementary School. Lookouts were compensated with nick bags of crack. The crew is also accused of violent crimes, including murder and an assault on a pregnant woman, which caused a miscarriage.
Hodges has been accused of being the crew’s leading cocaine supplier, distributing 30 keys over six months in 2014. He also is accused of being the connect for other drug crews in the Hampton Roads area.
In August 2015, the Portsmouth PD executed 17 controlled crack buys from members of the Corna Sto Boys. According to reports, the Portsmouth PD has identified 30 individuals as members or affiliates. On December 3, 2015, announced 36 indictments on nine members of the crew. The next day, the feds began rounding up members. Six Corna Sto Boys–Hodges, Battle, Kenyatta Adams (top center), Reginald White (bottom left), Richard Banks (bottom center) and William Smith (top left)– were brought in on 24 charges, which included possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, conspiracy, and possession/sale of narcotics on or near a school, as well as potential gang enhancements. They were split up between Portsmouth City Jail, Chesapeake City Jail and Hampton Roads Regional Jail. The charges each face are as follows, according to the Portsmouth PD:
47 year-old William K. Smith of the 800 block of Williamsburg Avenue, Portsmouth was charged with three felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 3rd offense, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and distribution of drugs on or near school property. He is currently being held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
36 year-old Richard T. Banks of the 1100 block of Centre Avenue, Portsmouth was charged with three felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 2nd offense, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and distribution of drugs on or near school property. He is currently being held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
36 year-old Reginald M. White of the 1900 block of Oakleaf Drive, Norfolk was charged with three felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 3rd offense (x2) and distribution of drugs on or near school property. He is currently being held in the Chesapeake City Jail.
28 year-old LaCharles E. Hodges of the 4400 block of King Street, Portsmouth was charged with three felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 2nd offense, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and distribution of drugs on or near school property. He is currently being held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
37 year-old Charles Battle, Jr. of the 5500 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk was charged with eight felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 3rd offense (x4), conspiracy to distribute drugs, and distribution of drugs on or near school property (x3). He is currently being held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
34 year-old Kenyatta H. Adams of the 1000 block of Cherokee Road, Portsmouth was charged with four felony counts to include possession with the intent to distribute Cocaine 2nd offense (x2) and distribution of drugs on or near school property (x2). He is currently being held in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.
According to WAVY-TV, for their guilty pleas, Hodges and Gray face ten years to life and Battle faces 20 to life. Norman Stephenson, who pleaded guilty of February 3, faces 20 to life, as well.
Read here about the Portsmouth cocaine kingpin sentenced to 30 years in prison last year.
