Two attorneys who previously represented former rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight during his ongoing murder case were arrested Thursday on charges accusing them of acting as "accessories after the fact," authorities said.
Matthew Fletcher, 53, was taken into custody at the Long Beach courthouse around 2 p.m. and was being held in lieu of $1-million bail, according to sheriff's Sgt. Robert Alexander.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said Thaddeus Culpepper was arrested at his home around 5 p.m. She declined to elaborate on the accessory charges or clarify whether the attorneys are accused in connection with Knight's pending legal troubles.
In August, Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged that Fletcher, Culpepper, Knight and others tampered with witnesses and discussed bribes connected to the rap impresario's murder case. The allegations were detailed in a 22-page court filing.
"...the successful annihilation of organized crime's subculture in America would rock the 'legitimate' world's foundation, which would ultimately force fundamental social changes and redistributions of wealth and power in this country. Meyer Lansky's dream was to bond the two worlds together so that one could not survive without the other." - Dan E. Moldea
