Member Of Newport News Drug Gang Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Eric Pridgen, 31, of Newport News, Virginia, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for participating in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics as part of the Thug Relations gang.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Richard W. Myers, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

Pridgen pleaded guilty on March 12, 2014.  According to court documents, Pridgen was involved with several other individuals, including his brother Herbert Pridgen, in distributing large quantities of powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana in the Denbigh section of Newport News.  This drug dealing involved the use of firearms and often turned violent.

Eric Pridgen was preceded in sentencing by Robbie Bowles, 29, of Newport News, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for participating in the drug conspiracy and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking offense; Ronnie Rooks, 29, of Newport News, who received 10 years in prison for the drug conspiracy; and Herbert Pridgen, 27, of Newport News, who received a sentence of 11 years in prison for the drug conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, Virginia State Police and Newport News Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:13-cr-54.