Press Release
Contact:
SEAN C. MALTBIE
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2406
KALAMAZOO AREA MEN CONVICTED
FOR INVOLVEMENT IN WITNESS-TAMPERING SCHEME
FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009 -
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Dametrice Murray, 23, and Jamar Jackson, 18, both of
Kalamazoo, Michigan, pled guilty in connection with a scheme to tamper with a witness, U.S.
Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today. Resident Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Captain Joe Taylor,
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, joined in the announcement. Murray pled guilty to one
count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of solicitation of another to
tamper with a witness against him on the firearm offense. Jackson pled to one count of
conspiracy to tamper with that witness.
The two men were indicted by a federal grand jury in March after Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety detectives discovered the two men were plotting to harm a witness while they were incarcerated together in the Kalamazoo County Jail. Jackson was scheduled to be released from jail and planned to find the witness against Murray and prevent him from testifying regarding Murray’s possession of a firearm. Having been twice convicted of felony drug trafficking, Murray could not legally possess a firearm as a felon. No harm came to the witness, as the plan was discovered before Jackson was released.
Sentencing for both men is scheduled for October 7, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker. Murray faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm count and 15 years in prison for the solicitation count. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy to tamper with a witness count.
“Witness tampering is a serious crime that cuts at the very heart of the ability of law enforcement efforts to bring criminal offenders to justice and make our community safe,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. Davis added, “the people who are in the best position to combat crime are those who witness it in their community, thus witness protection is a top priority and those who threaten witnesses will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Fortunately, this plan was discovered before anyone was hurt.”
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the ATF for their work on the case. The case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative to combat the illegal possession of firearms. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Maltbie.
END
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