Brien Keith Hughes, 32, formerly of Alexandria, was sentenced Aug. 7 to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for convictions related to his role in two violent robberies where firearms were used.
Hughes pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015. According to court documents and statements made in court, Hughes, who previously served as a leader of the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods clique of the United Blood Nation transnational street gang, was involved in two violent robberies on May 13, 2013. In both instances, Hughes, along with other co-conspirators, targeted a low-level marijuana dealer and engaged in what is referred to as a “drug rip,” where after setting up a drug transaction, the purchaser robs the drug dealer of their narcotics and any other valuables. In this case, Hughes and other Bloods members executed an armed robbery of the victim and stole his narcotics, identification, vehicle, and keys.
Afterwards, Hughes and his co-conspirators, using the information found on the victim’s stolen identification, traveled to the home where the victim was residing. In addition to the victim, two other individuals, innocent bystanders who rented a room to the victim, were also present when the defendant and his fellow gang members made entry into the home.
The defendant and his co-conspirators, armed with handguns and zip-ties, forced entry into the home and assaulted the three sleeping occupants and restrained the victims using zip-ties. Once the victims were tied up and partially blindfolded, some gang members ransacked the house looking for drugs, valuables, and weapons, while the other gang members, including the defendant, interrogated the three victims regarding the location of additional marijuana. This interrogation involved physical and sexual assault.