U.S. Attorney: Two Gang Members Indicted In Witness Retaliation Plot
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Two men charged with plotting to retaliate against a trial witness were indicted in a St. Paul federal court Thursday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office.
Prosecutors say Tywin Bender, 25, and Royal Angel Hines, 20, are members of the Minneapolis gang, the "Stick Up Boys." Court documents say Bender, who is already serving a sentence for aggravated robbery, called Hines, directing him to send an email to two inmates at another prison in Rush City.
Investigators say Bender dictated the content of the email to Hines over the phone, which called the intended victim "a rat," and said, "Smash him as soon as you all catch him. Green light. No Passes. No talking. He got on the stand on Chief," referring to the co-defendant in Bender's case.
According to court documents, Hines went on to send the email to two inmates in Rush City. One of those emails was intercepted by Department of Corrections employees, but the other was not.
