Mpls. Gang Member Gets 70 More Months For Ordering Violence Against Witnesses
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A convicted north Minneapolis gang member learned he will serve 70 more months in prison for attempting to retaliate violently against federal witnesses, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger says 26-year-old Tywin Bender, known as "Finn Winn", will serve a total of 130 months – or nearly 11 years – on a firearms charge and a witness retaliation charge.
Bender, a known member of the Stick Up Boys, was charged in an 11-defendant indictment in November of 2014 for conspiracy to commit a crime being a felon in possession of firearms, which he pled guilty to.
In the trial, two gang members -- Antonio Lewis and Kibbie Walker -- testified against one of the defendants, Veltrez Black, who was later found guilty of all charges against him.
Bender then later used a prison phone to call a female accomplice. In the call, he dictated to her an email to send to two fellow gang members who were being confined at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Rush City, which was in the same facility where the witnesses were then held.
The email stated: "the n---a bogus [Lewis's nickname] is a rat. he took the stand on chief. smash him as soon as you see him. green light. the n---a Kibbie took the stand too on chief. let everybody know. no talking no explanations."
The plot was foiled, however, when a corrections employee noticed the threatening email and steps were taken to protect the intended victims.
The case is a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Paulsen.