Petersburg gang leader convicted of conspiring to kill officer

By Staff Reports

Published: January 13, 2009

A Petersburg gang leader was convicted today of conspiring to kill a Petersburg police detective who had arrested him last year in a series of gang-related robberies in the city.

Kalvin B. Kelley, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy 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 felony use of a firearm.

Under a plea agreement made public today, Kelley will receive no more than 25 years in prison when he is sentenced April 1.

During a summary of evidence today in Petersburg Circuit Court, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Cheryl Wilson described Kelley as the "five-star general" of a gang he led in the Tri-cities area known as G Shyne, a subset of the nationally known Bloods in New York.

He arrived here two years ago from New York, first settling in Nottoway County and then moving to Hopewell in February 2008. "His mission was basically to recruit new members for his particular gang," which at one time had more than 100 local members, Wilson said.

After his arrest on March 26 for a series of gang-related robberies in Petersburg, Kelley developed a plan while in jail to kill the Petersburg police detective who arrested him, Wilson said. This was "to make sure there were no witnesses that would be able to come to court to testify."

Wilson said Kelley issued orders by letter or verbally during jail visits by fellow gang members, directing them on how and when to carry out the killing, set for April 29. He specifically directed two juvenile-aged gang members to kill the detective, promising them $7,000 up front and $3,000 more after the deed.

"He was ordering all of that while he was incarcerated," Wilson said.

During a search of another gang member's home in early May, police discovered three letters written by Kelley with information about the plot, along with two shotguns, drug scales and gang paraphernalia.

Kelley, whose street name is 40-cal, is the first of five gang members to be tried; additional arrests are expected, authorities said.

-- Mark Bowes