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WILKES-BARRE — Prosecutors on Wednesday said they won’t introduce at trial evidence of homicide suspect Keanu Pinnock’s alleged involvement in a human sex-trafficking ring that was under FBI investigation.

Pinnock, 20, of Wilkes-Barre, is one of two men charged in the fatal September shooting of Irvando Crooks, 23, of New York, who was found shot in the legs and torso outside a residence on North Sherman Street on Sept 2. Also facing homicide charges is Tevon Kashaine Thomas, 25, of Wilkes-Barre.

The motion to keep Pinnock’s alleged ties to the ring out of his upcoming trial was one of several discussed during a brief hearing in Luzerne County Court. The parties said they would work to resolve some of the motions ahead of trial. Others would be argued in briefs filed in the coming days, they said.

Prosecutor Tony Ross said witnesses will be instructed not to testify about the ring, which allegedly involved Thomas, Crooks, and multiple witnesses as well. Prosecutors would mention the evidence, however, if the defense “opened the door” on the issue, he noted.

Prosecutors will seek to introduce evidence of Pinnock’s alleged affiliation with the Crips gang in New York, including whether it may have been a motive in the shooting. The defense is attempting to preclude the reported ties.

At a hearing in October, witness Luis Vallecillo testified Thomas, Pinnock, and Crooks were all friends and were always together. The night before the alleged shooting, they engaged in an argument over a cellphone running out of minutes, he said.

Before the shooting, Thomas, Pinnock, and Crooks argued over whose turn it was to deal drugs, city detective Charles Jensen testified. Thomas, Jensen said, was upset Crooks had a man selling drugs, which prevented Thomas from having Pinnock working that position.

Vallecillo explained the phone at the center of the argument was typically used to sell drugs and since it had run out of minutes, the sales could not be conducted.

After a short time on the run, Pinnock was arrested in Florida by U.S. Marshals. Thomas was arrested Oct. 5 outside the Luzerne County Courthouse ahead of a scheduled appearance to lift a bench warrant on theft charges.

Both men remain jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Pinnock
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL020417Keanu-Pinnock1CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPinnock Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Joe Dolinsky

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL