Some of your theory may turn out to be right. I didn't think at first that this case was tied to anything else, however, it's gotten real weird with Baker.
To add credibility to your theory, Crime and corruption has been all through the Durham power structure in the past.
I also think it's clear Nifong got in over his head. He has said he underestimated the Press interest. I think he also
underestimated his chances to do Durham Justice under the radar.
It is very possible Kim or Crystal are informants or have been in the past. Their sentences were ridiculously light. Something is going on there.
I will say that I don't think Nifong needed anything or anyone after he aggressively and publicly pursued the White Devils.
There is also a connection with Nifong and Mark Simeon - Kim's attorney that is advising the Magnum family at this time. Simeon brought the black vote to Nifong according to one report. Simeon and Nifong were political enemies. After Nifong brought indictments he met with Simeon and Simeon agreed to go out and campaign for Nifong and vouch for him with the black community. Simeon is looking for a civil award of some type and he is the one that has met with the Magnum Family and Willie Gary (Famous Black Civil lawyer). Kim Roberts also totally changed her story after signing on with Mark Simeon. Basically, Kim is only marketable if she's on Crystal's side. There is no money for Kim Roberts if she contradicts Crystal's case and there's no heinous crime. But, if she supports Crystal, BET, Essence, JET, Ebony, and on and on. She can be a celebrity in the black community.
I wonder if Baker has a relationship with Simeon? This is like a Ponzi scheme. Simeon has Roberts sign his contract for representation (civil) and I bet he already has Crystal signed. He gets 10% or whatever and Willie Gary will get 30%.
article on Simeon advising Magnum family:
http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/440843.html
You and I and others who are watching this case closely generally agree on one thing: there is something going on here that is not visible to the outsider's naked eye. And that something, whatever it is, is local and it's ugly and it involves Durham's seamy underside.
I think your theory is less dramatic than mine, but may hold water better. Maybe there's more than one thread running through this, who knows.
One thing we agree on completely: Nifong got in way over his head, and way beyond his level of competence.
I didn't know the stuff about Simeon. He just might be the wild card in all this. There certainly is no shortage of scumbags in this story.