Grand jury indicts 27

Published 10:12 pm Friday, April 26, 2019

A Suffolk man has been indicted on charges of voluntary manslaughter and distributing/selling for profit Schedule I or II drugs in connection to an overdose death that happened last spring, according to Suffolk Police.

Byron Franklin Ambrose Jr., 31, was arrested Thursday following the indictment on the two charges, related to an April 6, 2018 incident, according to a news release. Online court records indicate that the drug charge against Ambrose is for allegedly distributing fentanyl.

Emergency Communications was contacted at 5:50 a.m. April 6, 2018, and Suffolk Police and Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Wilroy Road, where a man was later pronounced dead.

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The fentanyl allegedly distributed by Ambrose is believed to have been connected to the death, according to online court records.

Ambrose has been in custody at Western Tidewater Regional Jail since July 17, 2018, on unrelated charges. According to online court records, those charges include malicious wounding, robbery, shoot, stab, cut or wound and carjacking for an incident that allegedly took place July 11, 2018.

According to a July 12, 2018 city news release, Emergency Communications received a call at 5:45 p.m. on July 11, 2018, from the Easy Mart in the 1300 block of East Washington Street stating that “an adult male victim reported he had been robbed at knifepoint and injured during the aggravated assault. The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries as a result of the assault.”

Ambrose faces arraignment at 9:30 a.m. May 9 in Suffolk Circuit Court on the new charges, and a 9:30 a.m. May 10 arraignment on the previous charges dating back to last July.

Ambrose was one of 27 defendants indicted on 53 charges this week by the grand jury.

Also indicted was Natea Novaza Drafts Jr., who is charged with aggravated malicious wounding and other charges for a Nov. 12, 2018, stabbing in the 500 block of Second Avenue. The victim in the stabbing was allegedly trying to get his vehicle back from Drafts when Drafts is accused of stabbing him through the forearm, causing wounds on both sides.

Travis Cobrial Chalk also is indicted on charges involving a shooting on Spruce Street on Dec. 9, 2018. He is accused of shooting a male victim, who suffered a shattered femur.

The full grand jury list is below.

Byron Franklin Ambrose Jr. — distribute fentanyl; voluntary manslaughter

Eric Darnell Bryant — possess Schedule I/II drugs

Travis C. Chalk — aggravated malicious wounding; use firearm in felony; shoot, stab, cut or wound; nonviolent felon possess gun; shoot in public place

Gordon Reid Chase — possess heroin

Camilla Ereselle Cobb — possession of Schedule I/II drug with intent to distribute; conspiracy to distribute Schedule I/II drugs; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, ½ ounce to 5 pounds; conspiracy to distribute marijuana

Eric Nathaniel Cole — possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, ½ ounce to 5 pounds

Holly Mullen Crichton — possess heroin

Drelin Devon Cumming — grand larceny (3 counts); larceny with intent to sell (2 counts); statutory burglary (2 counts)

Natea Novaza Drafts Jr. — malicious wounding; aggravated malicious wounding; grand larceny auto

Karen Ray Gilliam — inadequate animal care; cruelty to animals

Kevin James Gilliam — inadequate animal care; cruelty to animals

Ramel Davon Holland — possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, ½ ounce to 5 pounds; possess cocaine; nonviolent felon possess gun within 10 years; possess gun with Schedule I/II drugs

Cheryl Kay Horn — falsify firearm purchase form

Abdiel Luis Jackson — fail to return bailed property

Theodore Jean Lewis Jr. — possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, ½ ounce to 5 pounds

Richard Anthony Moore — strangle causing wound or injury

Barry A. Muhammad — possession of Schedule I/II drugs with intent to distribute

Amanda Nash — grand larceny; conspiracy to commit larceny; larceny with intent to sell

Jerome Outlaw Jr. — possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, ½ ounce to 5 pounds

Derek Trey Parker — unlawful release dangerous gas

Abbegail Marie Preddy — embezzlement more than $500

Lamont Oshay Scott — embezzlement more than $500; larceny with intent to sell

Denis Sledge — forgery; uttering; attempt obtain money by false pretenses

Isis Storm Sneed — possess Schedule I/II drugs

Dana Deshawn Stephenson — grand larceny auto

James Jameer Warren — third offense larceny

Derino Mondell Wilson — drive while habitual offender