Norfolk man receives 17 months in jail for passing fake money in New Kent County

A Norfolk man who exchanged fake bills for real money at a business in New Kent will spend the next 17 months in jail.

Trevon Devasiay Myricks, 32, of the 8000 block of Roxboro Road, entered a guilty plea to one count of forging notes as part of a plea agreement reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. A misdemeanor charge of obtaining money by false pretenses was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 8, 2024, a New Kent Deputy responded for a call for service at Love’s Travel Center. When the officer arrived, the clerk on shift spoke with the deputy and said that an individual had asked to exchange four $50 dollar bills for $20 bills. As the clerk was making the exchange, the individual grabbed the $20 bills and left. The clerk noticed the $50 notes were suspicious and realized they were fake. Video surveillance was used to watch the event and assistance from other jurisdictions were able to identify Myricks as the individual making the exchange.

Under the agreement, Myricks received a 10-year sentence with eight years, seven months suspended (one year, five months to serve). He must also pay $500 in fines.

In other circuit court matters:

–Shelby Diane Cornetta, 38, of the 7600 block of Wister Village Drive, Richmond, entered a straight guilty plea to possession of a Schedule I/II drug. One charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia was dropped by the prosecution.

In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 27, 2024, a New Kent deputy responded to a single-vehicle accident on Davis Drive. When the deputy arrived, they spoke to the driver, later identified as Cornetta. The defendant said she was going to the store and realized that she was heading in the wrong direction and ran into the ditch. However an independent witness who saw the accident disputed that claim. When Cornetta was asked if she had any drugs in the vehicle, she told the officers that she had methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle yielded hypodermic needles and a glass-smoking device. The substance inside the needles were sent to a forensics lab, with results revealing that the drug was methamphetamine.

Formal sentencing for Cornetta is scheduled for Aug. 18 as she is currently enrolled in a drug rehabilitation class.

–William Henry Ellis Jr., 35, of the 4400 block of Old Williamsburg Road, Sandston, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (second offense) as part of a plea agreement. An additional charge of felony child abuse was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence, on July 27, 2024, a Virginia State Police trooper noticed a pick-up pulled on the side of the road on Pocahontas Trail. When the officer approached the driver to make sure to see if they were okay, they detected the odor of alcohol. The trooper asked the driver, now identified as Ellis, if they had anything to drink, which Ellis responded that he had one beer. A field sobriety test was conducted and the defendant performed poorly. Ellis was placed into custody and the officer also noticed two minors in the back of the vehicle. A subsequent background search revealed that this was the defendant’s second DWI within five years.

Under the agreement, Ellis received 360 days in jail with 330 days suspended (30 days to serve) on the DWI conviction, with 25 days being mandatory under the state statute. All 12 months on the misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor were suspended. The defendant must also pay $2,500 in fines.

–Joseph R. Robinson, 43, of the 700 block of Burns Street SE, Washington D.C. entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of misdemeanor receiving stolen goods (originally felony receiving stolen goods) as part of a plea agreement.

In a summary of evidence, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a “be-on-the-lookout” for a motorcycle that had been confiscated. A deputy was able to locate the bike and executed a traffic stop. After identifying the operator as Robinson, the deputy asked if he had the key to the bike, which Robinson said that he didn’t and had to turn it on via the kill-switch. The defendant was taken into custody for having stolen property.

Under the agreement, Robinson received a 12-month sentence with all but 10 days suspended.