Press Releases
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 · 04:15 pm
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Karen Watkins, 24 years old, of W. 32nd Street in Norfolk, Virginia pled guilty to Embezzlement before Circuit Court Judge Patricia L. West. Further, Bryant announced that Latasha Kiana Boyd, 24 years old, of Margate Avenue in Virginia Beach, Virginia, also pled guilty to Embezzlement before Judge West. Presentence reports were ordered and the sentencing will take place on April 25, 2012.
Had these matters gone to trial, the Commonwealth’s evidence would have proved that between January 1, 2009, and October 31, 2009, Watkins and Boyd together embezzled close to $50,000 from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) while employed there as “vault pullers”. Buses and trolleys in Virginia Beach used the station at 1400 Parks Avenue in Virginia Beach as a collection site for bus and trolley fares. As part of their duties as vault pullers, Boyd and Watkins regularly visited the Parks Avenue trolley station to collect money from a vault and deliver it to a money room in Norfolk, Virginia, for counting. When money was pulled from the vault, it was housed in a sealed container; however, the container at the trolley station was not sealed. This allowed access to the money, which was mainly in one dollar bills.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012 · 04:15 pm
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Marshall Demetrius Moyd, 30 years old, previously residing in the 900 block of S. Clubhouse Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was formally sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Patricia L. West on charges of First Degree Murder, Robbery, Possession of a Sawed Off Shotgun, and two (2) counts of Use of a Firearm. Moyd was found guilty by a jury after a seven-day trial in October 2011. Today, Judge West imposed the jury’s recommended sentence of 68 years in prison.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on August 7, 2008, Virginia Beach Special Investigations Detectives were conducting a “buy/bust” operation in the Green Run Shopping Center in Virginia Beach. The detectives had arranged through a confidential informant to purchase one-half pound of marijuana from an individual by the nickname of “Pep”. “Pep” was later identified as Marshall Demetrius Moyd. The Virginia Beach Special Investigations Team consisted of three teams of multiple officers, each assigned different responsibilities. Detective Michael Phillips was undercover and wore a body wire and duty weapon, which were concealed. He also possessed $675.00 in cash to purchase the marijuana. Detective Phillips contacted Moyd and they agreed to meet near the 7-Eleven in the Green Run Shopping Center. Moyd entered Detective Phillips’ undercover truck wearing a backpack and stated that he did not have the marijuana on him but that he would return with it.
One of the Special Investigative teams spotted Moyd talking with a second man, later identified as Ted Carter. Moyd and Carter spoke for about ten (10) minutes before Moyd returned to Detective Phillips’ truck. Carter was seen entering a Chevy Tahoe and driving towards the shopping center. Meanwhile, Moyd informed Detective Phillips that “his man” was bringing the marijuana. Moments later, Carter parked the Tahoe to the left of Detective Phillips at which time Detective Phillips asked Moyd, “Is this your man?” Carter then exited the Tahoe, approached Detective Phillips, and opened fire on him using a .40 caliber handgun. Carter shot Detective Phillips at least three times without provocation and without warning. Moyd jumped out of Detective Phillips’ car and ran to the Tahoe. He attempted to drive away but was stopped after two of the Special Investigative teams rammed the Tahoe. Moyd fled into nearby woods where he was soon arrested. A sawed off shotgun he admitted having was found nearby. Carter was detained at the scene while grabbing money from the floor of Detective Phillips’ truck. Attempts to revive Detective Phillips by officers on the scene were unsuccessful and he died as a result of the gunshot wounds.
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Recent Events
Harvey attended the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers 30th Celebration Annual Awards Dinner on January 21st at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Virginia Beach. Prior to installing the 2012 officers, he presented Crime Solvers with a check for $1,000 from his office’s asset forfeiture fund for the fourth year in a row. WAVY tv’s Cheryl Tan served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The following 2nd Precinct officers won the Captain Clyde D. Hathaway Memorial Award: Officer William Ahern, Officer Noel Benson, and Detective Leon Williams. MPO Al DAngelis received the Chief Charles R. Wall SRO Award, and MPO James LaClaire was also nominated for this award. Harvey extends his appreciation to the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers for their dedication toward keeping the community safe and secure.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 · 10:00 am
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that the office’s Victim-Witness Program received the 2011 Program of the Year award from the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF). The award was formally presented by CICF Director, Mary Vail Ware, at the Virginia Beach City Council meeting held on Tuesday evening, January 10, 2012.
According to CICF, the Program of the Year award signifies “outstanding service and advocacy on behalf of victims and for providing assistance to help ease the economic burden caused by violent crime.” Presented annually since 2004, over 100 Victim-Witness programs throughout the state were candidates for the award. A group of 18 CICF staff select the recipient based upon the amount of CICF claims submitted by the program in comparison to their population and crime rate, the program’s mechanism for and amount of restitution collection, how well the victim-witness advocates relate to their victims, and how responsive the program is to CICF requests for assistance in advancing a claim.
Virginia Beach’s Victim-Witness program facilitated the collection of over $230,080 for 232 victims of crimes such as homicide, robbery, sexual abuse, and assault. Reimbursed expenses included medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, personal property, moving expenses, temporary housing, and transportation costs.
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