Marion “Suge” Knight is regarded as one of the most respected and feared music moguls in the history of the business – a status that may also be dealt to his business partners in light of new reports.
Matthew Fletcher (pictured left). Photo credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Matthew Fletcher, Knight’s former attorney, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and perjury charges on Wednesday (February 16) after being accused him of plotting to bribe witnesses to lie for the Hip Hop mogul when he faced murder charges in 2016.
As a result of the plea deal, Fletcher will be barred from practicing law for life and could face jail time if he does not resign within 90 days. What’s more, he will be placed on probation for 5 years.
“Prosecutors originally accused Matthew Fletcher, 57, of conspiracy to suborn perjury, obstruct justice and bribe witnesses after obtaining a warrant to listen in on jailhouse phone calls between the attorney and Knight in 2015. He was also charged as an accessory after the fact in Knight’s case and faced an unrelated count of bribery in connection with testimony he gave at a disciplinary hearing before the State Bar of California in 2016.
Jurors began weighing the charges against Fletcher earlier this week following a two-month trial, but a plea deal started to come together on Wednesday morning before a verdict could be reached, according to Fletcher’s co-counsel, Alexandra Kazarian.”
Knight is currently serving a 28-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2018 for using his Ford F-150 to run over two men in a parking lot (one of whom died from the injuries sustained).