Poughkeepsie Journal

Attorney and his Investigator Indicted for Alleged Witness Tampering

Police Briefs

A Poughkeepsie defense attorney was indicted  in U.S. District Court Friday for allegedly conspiring to tamper with a witness, the U.S. Attorney's Office in White Planes said.

Donald Roth and David St. John, a private investigator who worked for him, were accused of planning to try to influence a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms informant, authorities said.

They allegedly wanted the informant to sing false affidavits exclaiming he had not conducted drug deals with clients of Roth and St. John, authorities said.

At his arraignment Friday, Roth was ordered to turn over his permit and handgun, the U.S. attorney's office said. A trial is set for November 17.

The arrests came out of an ongoing investigation by the ATF and the City of Newburgh Police Department into firearms and gun trafficking in the City of Newburgh.

Roth was charged with conspiracy to commit witness tampering and obstruction of justice. The charges carry a maximum of five-year prison term and a $25,000 fine.

Roth and St. John, who was charged with conspiracy to commit witness tampering, were each released on $200,000 bond.

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