THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 16, 1996 TAG: 9603160356
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Five alleged members of Portsmouth's River Edge drug gang were convicted in federal court Friday of murder, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and other charges.
Jurors took about four hours to bring the eight-day trial to a close - the first major convictions to result from a federal task force assigned to combat violent crime in Portsmouth.
All the defendants were convicted on all counts against them.
Alleged drug kingpin Robert Lee Winfield Jr. was convicted of four counts related to murder; two counts related to attempted murder, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and organizing a continuing criminal enterprise; three firearms charges; and one count each of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana. He faces life in prison. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
Winfield was convicted of shooting Mark Martin in the back of the head and killing him in July 1995.
As the verdict against Winfield was read, a woman's sobs broke the quiet of the courtroom and the judge asked her to leave. Her weeping echoed in the hallway outside as the verdicts continued to be read.
Also convicted with Winfield were:
John Lee Cobbs, on two counts related to attempted murder, two firearms charges and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He faces up to life in prison.
Lorenzo Lee Winfield, on conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and a firearms charge. He is a brother of Robert Lee Winfield Jr. and faces a possible life term.
Taubari Olanyan Latson, on conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and a firearms charge. He faces a mandatory life term.
Demetrius Marcus Williams, on conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He faces a possible life term.
The defendants showed little emotion as the verdicts were read. One later turned and tried to comfort a woman crying in the back of the courtroom saying: ``It will be all right.''
Sentencing is set for July 29.
``We feel for the Winfield family, especially for their children,'' said Sharon McClure, a close family friend of Mark Martin, ``but at least they'll be able to see them and talk to them. We'll never see Mark again. We're happy with the decision.''
Seven men originally were charged in the conspiracy to run a drug operation in the River Edge apartment complex in Portsmouth between June 1993 and December 1995. But two, Lemuel Demonte Britt and Andre Lamont Branche, pleaded guilty, leaving five defendants.
The trial has sparked considerable controversy and allegations of witness intimidation.
At least four witnesses told the judge they were afraid to testify. One witness claimed he was approached on the street and threatened. Another said he received telephone threats. One witness was cited for contempt for refusing to testify. And three spectators were barred from the courthouse for allegedly gesturing to witnesses and making threatening gestures to police.
Larry Torrence, the FBI agent in charge, called the case the worst example of witness intimidation he had seen in 27 years of service.
Prosecutors painted a picture of violence, intimidation and retaliation including murder, shootings and severe beatings of drug customers at an open-air market near the River Edge Apartments in Portsmouth.
``How better to control than by terrorism?'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Reincke said Friday in her closing argument. ``This was a conspiracy of violence. This was a conspiracy of terrorism.''
But defense attorneys had argued, among other things, that the government had not proven its cases of conspiracy.
``There was no conspiracy. There was no group,'' said Priscilla Rae, who represented Latson. ``Each person did what they did all on their own . . . No one person or group controlled the market.''
ILLUSTRATION: B\W Court drawings
Robert Lee Winfield Jr.
John Lee Cobbs
Lorenzo Lee Winfied
Taubari Olanyan Latson
Demetrius Marcus Williams
KEYWORDS: US. FEDERAL COURT CONVICTION COCAINE MURDER GANG DRUG
TRIAL by CNB