LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – A judge has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for recruiting at least four juveniles into a street gang.
On May 27, 2023, Officers with the Lynchburg Police Department were patrolling 12th Street when they noticed a pistol with an extended magazine in the passenger floorboard of a vehicle. A K9 unit reportedly detected a narcotics odor coming from the car, which ultimately led to a search.
Once the serial number was run from the firearm, officers learned it was reported stolen in 2022. They also found alleged illegal narcotics along with the gun inside the car.
Officers watched the vehicle when they saw Larneaux Allen, a convicted felon and known street gang member, and another individual enter the car. Allen attempted to enter the passenger side where the firearm was located.
Allen was detained and police obtained a search warrant for his phone where they found photos and videos of Allen with the firearm along with gang-related content. Officers also found three videos of Allen beating up juveniles to intimidate them into his street gang.
Police then found several years’ worth of communications between Allen and juveniles on how to commit crimes and exist within the rules of the gang.
On Tuesday, December 17, 25-year-old Allen was sentenced to a 10-year active sentence for recruiting juveniles into his street gang and possessing a firearm being a convicted felon.
He received a 20-year sentence with 15 years suspended on a felony charge of Gang Participation that included juvenile members. He also got another 20 years with 15 years suspended on a felony charge of Recruitment of a Juvenile into a Criminal Street Gang.
As a part of the agreement, the Commonwealth moved to drop the felony charge of Receiving a Stolen Firearm.
Judge F. Patrick Yeatts acknowledged the plea from Allen and his attorney that he has changed his life around. Judge Yeatts said he hopes Allen will encourage the juveniles he recruited to do the same.