Feds charge three with witness intimidation in drug case
Federal authorities have charged three people with trying to intimidate a witness in a heroin trafficking case in Raleigh.
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Demetrice "Respect" Devine, Timothy "Amp" Devine and Carletta Patrice "Lady Soowoo" Alston were each indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and obstructing an official proceeding.
The indictment remains sealed, but the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release that the FBI and Raleigh police were investigating gang activity and drug trafficking last summer when they subpoenaed several people to testify before a federal grand jury. Alston and the Devines hatched a plan to tell one of the witnesses that people "were watching the witness’ child, as a means to influence the witness’ testimony," according to the release.
It's unclear whether the Devines are related, but authorities suspect both of being local gang leaders.
Timothy Devine was described as a leader of the Gangsta Killer Bloods in Raleigh in 2008, when he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released last year.
Alston was charged in June 2009 with gunning down her stepfather, Michael Smith, in his Knightdale driveway. Wake County prosecutors dropped the charge two years later.
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