Girlfriend Testifies Against Philly Rapper Accused Of Running Drug Empire
Friday - January 25, 2008
By: Miles Bennett
Alleged Philly drug kingpin, Alton "Ace Capone" Coles, was called a liar and cheater by a former girlfriend who had testified against the rapper for the past couple days.
According to a report from the Phildelphia Inquirer, Kristina Latney gave an in-depth testimony that portrayed Coles as the leader of a organization that dominated the drug underworld, testifying that he was major cocaine dealer who used his Take Down Records business as a front for his drug operation.
In response to her testimony, Coles' lawyers grilled Latney about her motive under cross-examination where she admitted to cooperating to avoid possible jail time. But, she insisted her testimony was about her kids and not revenge for Coles' alleged infidelity.
"I'm testifying because I got kids at home and they don't have a father," Latney said, according to the paper.
Latney is the mother of three young children, of which were fathered by Coles. She began cooperating after Coles was arrested in August 2005 at a posh home outside of Mullica Hill, which he had recently moved into with another woman.
Her home was also raided that morning by ATF agents, in regards to an investigation that alleges Coles was the leader of a $25 million cocaine-distribution network.
Authorities claim Coles used his label and party promotion companies as a front Philadelaphia drug ring.
Before his 2005 arrest, 34-year-old Coles owned a Bentley, a Mercedes Benz and a half-million-dollar home in Harrison Township. During that time was enjoying the benefits of his wealth, rubbing elbows with big name rappers such as Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z, via business through their Take Down Records label.
During her testimony on Thursday (January 24), Latney, who has pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges, was questioned by defense lawyers about letters she is said to have written to Coles after he was jailed in August 2005.
The defense says the letters were evidence of her "anger, vitriol, hatred and bitterness" toward Coles.
"You crushed everything I ever had," she wrote in one letter, while in another, she told Coles, "Live and be miserable."
Despite the angry comments in those letters, she claims she is now over him and continued to maintain that her testifying wasn't revenge.
Latney testified that Coles used her as a straw buyer for homes, guns and luxury automobiles.
The paper reports that Latney is just the first of several cooperating witnesses scheduled to take the stand against Coles.
Additionally, the prosecution is also expected to play hundreds of wiretap conversations in which Coles and his top associates allegedly set up and discussed drug deals.
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