High-ranking gang member had list of juror names

The defendant who obtained a jury pool list, triggering a mistrial for six suspects in the killing of a Waynesboro reserve police captain, is a high-ranking gang member who recruited while behind bars awaiting trial, according to court records.

Travis Leon Bell, also known as Kweli Uhuru, possessed the jury pool list for “at least one night,” or 15 hours, while being held in the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange County and “had some conversations about names,” according to court transcripts obtained Wednesday by The Daily Progress and The News Virginian.

A day earlier in Charlottesville, the leak of the jury pool list prompted federal Judge Glen E. Conrad to declare a mistrial for Bell and five others accused in the killing of Kevin Wayne Quick, 45. The case now either won’t be tried in Charlottesville until next year or will be moved to a new venue, the judge has said.

Bell was known as “Big Homie,” a term of respect for higher-ranking Bloods members. He and Gert Arthur Wright III, also known as Halisi Uhuru, whom authorities described as the highest-ranking gang member of the six suspects, both recruited while in jail, according to court records.

Siblings Daniel Lamont Mathis, Shantai Monique Shelton and Mersadies Lachelle Shelton, all of Albemarle County, and Bell, of Front Royal, are accused of murder, racketeering and robbery. Wright and Anthony Darnell Stokes, both of Manassas, are charged with racketeering and obstruction of justice.

All six defendants are members of the 99 Goon Syndikate, an affiliate of the Bloods, according to prosecutors.

FBI agent Scott Cullins raised concerns about the safety of the 134 people on the jury pool list during a May 7 meeting in Conrad’s chambers with the judge and lawyers on both sides, according to court transcripts. The agent said each of the defendants is tied to the United Blood Nation, which he described as having a history of retribution and intimidation.

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