THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250518
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 49 lines
The woman whom prosecutors called the Ma Barker of Williamsburg was found guilty Thursday in federal court of intimidating a witness.
The woman, Alleyne Reed Wright, 63, is awaiting trial with her son and boyfriend on charges she operated a gang to distribute drugs on the Peninsula. On Thursday, a judge convicted her of intimidating a witness in the related trial of another son and nephew this summer.
On Sept. 9, her son, Ernest S. Wright, and three other men were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine. The gang was responsible for extensive violence, including the 1988 slaying of a Denbigh English teacher.
During the trial in federal court in Norfolk on Aug. 28, Alleyne Wright threatened one of the women who testified against her son immediately after her testimony. Court records show that Wright confronted the witness on the steps outside the courthouse.
``You no-good dirty -----, you stinking -----, you rotten -----, I ought to whip your mother f------ ---,'' Wright said to the woman, whose name is not being used for her protection.
Wright told the woman, ``You could have said you didn't know nothing.'' As the witness walked away, Wright said ``I'm going to whip her ---.''
On Thursday, prosecutor Michael Smythers characterized Alleyne Wright as the Ma Barker of the Williamsburg area after testimony indicated that she allegedly ran the family's drug operation.
Son Marty Wright was indicted last year as the alleged leader of one of three drug gangs that controlled territories in Williamsburg, James City County and New Kent County.
Prosecutors say the gangs used considerable violence, including beatings, shootings and murder. More than 30 people have been indicted in three related cases. Most have been held up due to allegations that prosecutors unfairly targeted blacks for prosecution.
An appeals court ruled recently that prosecutors did not unfairly target blacks, so the trials are being rescheduled for early next year.
Alleyne Wright, of James City County, faces up to 10 years in prison for the intimidation conviction. She faces up to life in prison if convicted of conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Another son, Ricky Wright, has not been charged. He and the two other brothers all have drug convictions in state court. Alleyne Wright's live-in boyfriend, James Neal Greenhough, faces conspiracy charges with her early next year.
KEYWORDS: DRUG GANGS DRUG ARREST TRIAL by CNB