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Some ‘Men of Honor’ charged with VSU hazing have criminal backgrounds

Posted at 8:22 PM, Apr 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-25 20:22:44-04

Chesterfield, Va. - Chesterfield police are looking for Charles Zollicoffer.  They say he along with James Mackey, Eriq Benson and Cory Baytop hazed VSU freshmen by telling them to cross the Appomatox River to become members of their group Men of Honor.

A NewsChannel 3 investigation reveals that Zollicoffer did time for distributing marijuana in Chesterfield five years ago, and Newport News court records show he was found guilty for credit card fraud in 2007.

Sources close to the group say the 29-year-old was one of the group's leaders.

Other students who were hazed by the group say Portsmouth native Marvell Edmondson and Williamsburg native Jauwan Holmes drowned during the group's initiation ritual.  Seven students were were told to link arms and cross the Appomatox River.

The source also said that 35-year-old Mackey was another of the group's leaders.  Court records reveal he's facing petit larceny charges for an incident earlier this year in Petersburg.  Chesterfield records show he was found guilty of petit larceny in 2004.

The source said the men charged with hazing claimed the Men of Honor group was a legitimate campus organization, but they now believe the group says it was a scam aimed at recruiting freshmen to promote off-campus parties.

The source said the group started back in 2005 and members would approach VSU students with promises that membership could be lucrative.

Related: 

Police continue to search for 4th person in connection to VSU hazing incident

Family, friends remember VSU student Marvell Edmondson in Portsmouth

Source says group accused of hazing VSU students is a scam

Four charged with hazing in connection with VSU drowning investigation

Body of missing VSU student identified; search continues for other student