NORFOLK (AP) -- A Suffolk man is facing federal charges linking him to the murder of a witness in a drug case against him and others.
U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride announced charges against 49-year-old Leroy Scott Jr. after the indictments were unsealed Tuesday afternoon.
Scott is charged with five offenses including conspiracy, witness tampering, retaliation against federal witnesses and the use of a firearm resulting in the murder of Junior Bivins Jr. on Nov. 20, 2001. Prosecutors say Scott sought to retaliate against Bivins and others for providing information to authorities about his drug distribution activities, weapons violations and other criminal offenses.
Scott will be arraigned on Friday. He could face the death penalty if convicted in Bivins' death.
The Suffolk News Herald reports Michael Donnell Butts, 52, of Suffolk, is serving a sentence of five life terms for providing a firearm to the shooter and driving him to and from the scene.
AP-WF-02-13-13 0935GMT
