Feds Seek to Revoke Lawyer's Bail in Racketeering Case, Saying Witness Contact Violated Bond Terms
An Indiana lawyer arrested a little over a week ago in a federal racketeering case is already in hot water again.
Contending that attorney Jerry Peteet, 49, made improper contact with witnesses in his case, federal prosecutors are seeking to revoke his $20,000 bail, the Post-Tribune reports.
In a motion filed in federal court in St. Louis on Thursday, the feds contend that Peteet accompanied multiple witnesses to the Lake County sheriff’s office so that they could make statements about his racketeering case.
Peteet pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Friday. In addition to racketeering, he is charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and witness tampering in the original case against him. That witness tampering charge relates to a wiretapped conversation Peteet had with a co-defendant, in which he allegedly said he intended to bribe fellow Wheels of Soul motorcycle gang members by offering them legal services, the feds said in the bail-revocation motion, arguing that Peteet will continue to contact witnesses if he is allowed to remain free.
“Peteet’s conduct, particularly given that he himself is an attorney and officer of the court, seems to constitute a violation of the conditions of his bond, and may even constitute a criminal offense,” says the filing.
The charges against Peteet were made in a superseding grand jury indictment in a case which 21 others also have been accused, according to an earlier Associated Press news brief.
