Petersburg gang leader sentenced to 25 years in prison

PETERSBURG -- Gang leader Kalvin B. Kelley was sentenced to 25 years in prison today for conspiring to kill a city police detective and other crimes associated with his control of a Bloods-affiliated gang in the Tri-Cities area.

Noting his leadership of the G Shyne gang and plan to kill a detective who arrested him in a series of gang-related robberies in Petersburg, Petersburg Circuit Judge Pamela S. Baskervill sentenced Kelley, 21, to 45 years in prison with 20 years suspended on five felony counts.

He pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to commit capital murder of a police officer, threatening death to a police officer by mail, criminal gang participation and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. In exchange, prosecutors withdrew 19 other charges, including multiple counts of robbery, abduction and felonious use of a firearm.

Under a plea agreement, Kelley was to have received no more than 25 years in prison.

But defense attorney Dennis M. Martin unsuccessfully attempted to postpone today's hearing so Kelley's family members from New York could travel here to testify on his behalf, with the hope of reducing his prison sentence.

Martin also wanted to give Kelley more time to provide additional information to police about gang activity in Petersburg. Martin said Kelley had already met with investigators two or three times since his conviction but the information he provided apparently wasn't useful.

Kelly had nothing to say this morning before Baskervill pronounced sentence. Martin explained why after today's hearing in Petersburg Circuit Court.

"Kelley is an example of a guy who fully knows and appreciates what he done and the wrongfulness of his conduct, and that's why he didn't say nothing," Martin said. "Basically, what was he going to say? He accepted responsibility for the crimes he committed, he knew what punishment he was facing, and when you do that, what can you say but take it like a man?"

According to evidence, Kelley, while jailed for several gang-related robberies, sent letters to fellow gang member Davon Bland last April in a conspiracy to assassinate the Petersburg detective who arrested Kelley. Bland also talked with Kelly about the hit while visiting him in jail.

Tri-Cities authorities learned of the plot last year after arresting seven people in a stolen firearms case that originated in Dinwiddie County.

That led police to search Bland's home on South Street, where investigators discovered three letters written by Kelley with information the referred to the plot. They also found three shotguns, drug scales and gang paraphernalia such as clothing and other items with the gang's colors of red, green and black.

Police learned that Kelley tapped two juvenile-age gang members to kill the detective, promising them $7,000 up front and $3,000 more after the killing, set for April 29, 2008.

Before his arrest, Kelley, known as "40-cal" on the street, directed several gang members to rob various Petersburg residents on March 7 and 11 of last year. The victims included two Petersburg High School students who were accosted at gunpoint as they were waiting to ride the bus to school.

Prosecutor Cheryl Wilson said Kelley arrived here two years ago from New York, first settling in Nottoway County and then moving to Hopewell. His mission was to recruit new members for G Shyne, which at one time had more than 100 local members.

Martin said today that Kelley felt he had to flee New York because of his gang involvement there.

-- Mark Bowes