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| U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney CONTACT: PRESS RELEASE April 14, 2009 LONG ISLAND MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL WITNESS TAMPERING CHARGE |
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Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM DUVAL CARTER, also known as “Deuce” and “Duval,” 32, of Huntington, New York, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to one count of witness tampering related to a federal grand jury proceeding in Bridgeport. According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, in 2007, CARTER was aware that his cousin, Corey Davis, was under indictment on various charges related to the forced sex trafficking of women and minors, and that the grand jury continued to investigate the matter. In pleading guilty, CARTER admitted that he instructed a witness, whom he knew had been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury on July 19, 2007, to withhold testimony from the grand jury about a severe cut that she suffered when Corey Davis slashed her, and to testify falsely about the source of the cut. CARTER, who was aware that the witness was prostituted by Corey Davis, also instructed her to withhold information from the grand jury regarding the rules and vocabulary associated with the subculture of pimping. On July 18, 2007, in order to ensure the witness’ compliance with his instructions, CARTER traveled to Bridgeport and stayed at the same hotel at which the witness was staying. Judge Hall has scheduled sentencing for July 6, 2009, at which time CARTER faces a term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Corey Davis pleaded guilty in March 2008 and, on December 19, 2008, he was sentenced to 293 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Krishna R. Patel and Rahul Kale. |
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