NORFOLK
On Tuesday, Phillip “Philly” Jerome Murphy, 41, of 417 Morton St., Franklin, pleaded guilty on charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Murphy was a wanted subject and was apprehended on Thursday, July 16. He then made an appearance in federal court on Friday, July 17, where he was arraigned and charged with distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin, distribution of heroin, possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.

Murphy was then indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Since 2012, Murphy has been the focus of an FBI investigation. He was one of the leaders of a Bloods street gang known as the Red Stone Rydahs. The gang operated in Franklin and distributed drugs in Franklin, Emporia, Smithfield and Southampton County.

Collie “Sonny Black” Rashad Sanks, 37, of Emporia, a fellow Bloods gang member and the other leader of the Red Stone Rydahs, pleaded guilty to distribute heroin on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Franklin Police Chief Phil Hardison said, “I am glad to see these cases brought to a close. We are continuing to work very diligently with local and federal forces to close other like cases.”

When Murphy is sentenced on Jan. 16, 2016, he faces a minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison.