Posted on 12/05/2003 1:15:42 AM PST by kattracks
A Bronx-born prosecutor was found slaughtered in Pennsylvania yesterday just as he was about to get two rappers to plead guilty to running a violent drug ring.The body of Baltimore Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Luna, 38, who once worked as a Brooklyn prosecutor, was found facedown in a watery ditch near Lancaster, Pa. He had been stabbed repeatedly, cops said.
The slaying was uncovered hours after Baltimore authorities began searching for Luna when he failed to appear at the trial of Baltimore rapper Deon [Papi Jenkinz] Smith, 32, and his one-time associate Walter Poindexter, 28.
Smith and Poindexter ran Stash House Records in Baltimore and were accused of using the business as a front for heroin dealing.
Luna's body was found behind a well-drilling company building in Brecknock Township, about 70 miles from Baltimore, officials said.
The slaying sent shockwaves from the courthouse halls of Baltimore to the office of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who expressed his condolences to Luna's widow.
"All appropriate resources will be dedicated to investigating this matter," Ashcroft said.
Last night, Luna's boss, Maryland U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiagio, said law enforcement officers, from the FBI to local cops, are united in hunting down the killer.
"We will find out who did this, and we are dedicated to bringing the person responsible for this tragedy to justice," he said.
A law enforcement source told the Daily News that Luna arrived at his suburban Baltimore home about 8 p.m. Wednesday, then suddenly left just before midnight after receiving a mysterious phone call.
The source said Luna's wife, Angela, reported him missing early yesterday morning.
DiBiagio said nothing has been ruled out in the slaying of Luna, the first U.S. attorney to be murdered in three years. He refused to say whether Smith and Poindexter were suspects.
But Poindexter's attorney, Arcangelo Tuminelli, said Luna would be the last person his client would want to see dead.
Tuminelli said Luna worked early Wednesday night to hammer out a plea deal that was "very favorable" for Poindexter and Smith. The attorney said they were waiting for Luna to arrive with the written plea agreements yesterday when they heard he was missing.
"I just think the circumstances of Mr. Luna's death doesn't look like it is related to this case," Tuminelli told the Daily News.
Tuminelli said another prosecutor stepped in for Luna yesterday and Smith and Poindexter pleaded guilty to charges of distribution of heroin and possession of a weapon.
"My client thinks it's a tragedy also and I think my client will provide any assistance that he can. But he clearly doesn't know anything about who might have done this," said Tuminelli, who added that Poindexter had been facing a life sentence before accepting the plea deal that offered five to 13 years in prison.
During his four years in the Baltimore U.S. attorney's office, Luna prosecuted cases against a man who videotaped a neighbor child as she slept in her home and against a man who plotted to burn down a home to force six Mexican men out of a neighborhood.
He also recently tried three men involved in a violent Baltimore crack-dealing ring. All the defendants entered guilty pleas.
With Nancie L. Katz
Originally published on December 5, 2003
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Sec. 1121. - Killing persons aiding Federal investigations or State correctional officers Whoever intentionally kills - a State or local official, law enforcement officer, or other officer or employee while working with Federal law enforcement officials in furtherance of a Federal criminal investigation - while the victim is engaged in the performance of official duties; because of the performance of the victim's official duties; or because of the victim's status as a public servant; or any person assisting a Federal criminal investigation, while that assistance is being rendered and because of it,
shall be sentenced according to the terms of section 1111, including by sentence of death or by imprisonment for life. Whoever, in a circumstance described in paragraph (3) of this subsection, while incarcerated, intentionally kills any State correctional officer engaged in, or on account of the performance of such officer's official duties, shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which shall not be less than 20 years, and may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. As used in this section, the term, ''State correctional officer'' includes any officer or employee of any prison, jail, or other detention facility, operated by, or under contract to, either a State or local governmental agency, whose job responsibilities include providing for the custody of incarcerated individuals. The circumstance referred to in paragraph (1) is that - the correctional officer is engaged in transporting the incarcerated person interstate; or the incarcerated person is incarcerated pursuant to a conviction for an offense against the United States. For the purposes of this section, the term ''State'' means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States
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