Federal prosecutors asked a judge today to dismiss crack-cocaine-trafficking charges against Willie DeWayne Clark now that he has been charged in Denver with the homicides of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams and a cooperating witness.
Clark, 25, is facing life in prison for the New Year’s Day 2007 shooting of Williams and the December 2006 fatal shooting of Kalonniann Clark.
Kalonniann Clark, 28, was killed just before she was set to testify against Brian Hicks, whom she accused of trying to kill her.
Hicks is a suspected drug kingpin and leader of the Elite Eight, a subset of the Tre Tre Crips, who also is facing federal drug charges in the same conspiracy with Willie Clark.
Hicks was in jail at the time of Kalonniann Clark’s death, but an indictment handed down by a Denver grand jury alleges Hicks told Willie Clark to kill Kalonniann Clark.
Willie Clark then found another man, 27-year-old Shun Birch, to help him commit the crime, the indictment says.
Willie Clark and Kalonniann Clark are not related.
In court papers filed today, prosecutors asked that Willie Clark’s charges be dismissed unless the state murder cases end in acquittals.
“If Clark is convicted on either of these homicides, the government will likely not proceed with its prosecution,” wrote assistant U.S. attorney Stephanie Podolak. “In the event that Clark is acquitted of both homicides, the government may elect to re-instate this current federal prosecution.”
Authorities say Willie Clark was dealing and cooking crack cocaine as an associate of the Elite Eight, Denver District Attorney Investigator Robert Fuller has testified.
Fuller said the Elite Eight was responsible for selling hundreds of thousands of kilos of cocaine in east Denver, Park Hill and Five Points and raking in millions of dollars.
The group also is suspected in several shootings, murders and racketeering.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
