ROANOKE, Va. – Plea deals resulted in the dismissal of murder charges against four defendants on gang-related charges.

Kevin Lamont Trent Jr., Shabba Larun Chandler, Kanas Lamont’e Trent and Phillip Daekwon Miles all pleaded guilty to lesser charges in Roanoke federal court Tuesday.

The four faced mandatory life terms under many of the original indictments but will now receive 13-to-15 year sentences under agreements reached with federal prosecutors. The four admitted to being members of the Rollin 60’s Crips, a street gang that operated out of Danville. They faced charges related to crimes committed in 2016 and 2017, including the Aug. 20, 2016 murder of Armonti Womack in Danville.

Two more defendants are expected to enter pleas Wednesday and Judge Michael Urbanski indicated the remaining cases might be moved to Danville. Sentencing will come at a later date.

The agreements were not expected at the trial’s outset but followed the prosecution’s failure to provide certain grand jury testimony to defense attorneys, as required.

The cases had been set for a seven-week trial.