VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach Police Department conducted a multi-day operation from July 14 to July 17, targeting gang activity, resulting in more than 74 indictments for gang-related charges.

The operation, which involved the execution of eight residential search warrants in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, focused on the EBK (Everybody Killer) gang, known for its association with the Bounty Hunter Watts gang.

The investigation aimed to dismantle gang membership and leadership through a top-down enforcement strategy, according to a release from the Virginia Beach Police Department.

“This operation demonstrates our department’s unwavering commitment to pursuing those who choose to engage in violence and lawlessness in our city,” said Police Chief Paul Neudigate. “We will continue to apply pressure through strategic enforcement operations to remove dangerous individuals from our neighborhoods and hold them accountable.”

The operation was the result of several months of intelligence gathering and investigative work by the Virginia Beach Police Department, in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies and specialized units.

Capt. Brad Wesseler, who has been with the VBPD for more than 20 years, described it as “one of the biggest operations that we’ve had from a patrol-oriented division.”

The VBPD Crime Suppression Squad noticed an uptick in violent crime around the Virginia Beach Boulevard corridor about a year ago. They found the suspects at the center of it all had been incarcerated before.

“We’ve tried other measures, rehabilitation, other things, and it wasn’t successful,” Wesseler said. “They didn’t take to it. They chose to stay in this criminal mindset.”

Seven arrests, 74 indictments total. And partnering with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, they’re able to combine these charges with others, resulting in harsher sentences.

“We’re able to create enhancements that really hold them accountable for their actions,” Wesseler said. “It’s one thing to charge him with a robbery or something, but to enhance their penalties, if they’re convicted of these additional crimes, we’re hoping to put a stop to it.”

Along with gun charges, they’re also facing multiple counts of gang recruitment. Wesseler said recruitment was strategic on their part — bringing in the young to do the dirty work.

“So, they were finding young males, typically, to basically recruit them or involve them in these criminal activities,” Wesseler said. “And it could start off as small things, such as breaking in vehicles, or larcenies from motor vehicles. And then it would elevate to certain things, once they came across firearms or other elements, they would use those in additional crimes.”

He said these groups thrive on numbers and offer protection that might be enticing to a young man with time on his hands. Still, he said the city does not have a gang problem.

“I wouldn’t say we have a gang problem,” Wesseler said. “It’s just, neighborhoods come together, and this is what they choose to do if not given a proper outlet or resource to steer it somewhere else.”

The following people have been charged in relation to the indictments:

• Quadeyr Tyus (M/21) of Virginia Beach – Charged with multiple counts of gang recruitment, Participation in a gang, and conspiracy to recruit for a gang.
• Devon Bennett (M/24) of Virginia Beach – Charged with multiple counts of gang recruitment, and conspiracy to recruit for a gang.
• Tyler Ricks (M/27) of Norfolk – Charged with multiple counts of gang recruitment and conspiracy to recruit for a gang.
• Leionte Smith (M/24) of Virginia Beach – Charged with multiple counts of gang recruitment, and conspiracy to recruit for a gang.
• Tyquan Cabarrus (M/26) of Virginia Beach – Charged with falsifying a firearm transaction record.

Additional individuals were arrested at a later date on various offenses:

• Demarih Lockhart (M/21) of Virginia Beach – charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
• Domario Sanderson (M/20) of Virginia Beach – charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, illegal possession of extended magazine, and participation in a criminal street gang.

The search warrants led to the recovery of 13 firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and other evidence linked to organized criminal activity.

The operation was supported by the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and local police departments.