The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Ten people have been charged in a scheme to intimidate witnesses to recant testimony in a murder trial that sent three men to prison for life.
Authorities announced the charges Monday, saying the tactics used by the suspects were heinous - and included beating up witnesses in prison, threatening to kill family members, and bribery.
In one case, a man was attacked by gang members in prison, and told he would be attacked every day until he signed an affidavit recanting his testimony.
Authorities said Lamonte Rydell Martin, 24, was the scheme's mastermind and faces 12 counts, including witness tampering. He is serving a life sentence for the execution-style killing of 19-year-old Christopher Lynch in 2006.
It appeared that Martin did not have an attorney as of Monday.
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