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Stop Snitching Cameraman Gets 30 Years

Drug and gun charges send man involved with Baltimore DVD sensation to jail

By Rebecca Smith Hurd, Newser User

Posted Aug 21, 2008 1:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – The heroin dealer-turned-cameraman behind the now-infamous Stop Snitching DVD was given 30 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges yesterday in Baltimore, the Sun reports. During his sentencing, Akiba Matthews-Bey said he was targeted by police because he made the video, which brought national attention to witness intimidation in local courts.

“It’s not like I killed somebody; I never did anything like that," he said. "Why attack me?” Matthews-Bey was arrested in Baltimore last fall after police found a gun—which he denies owning—and 58 gel caps of heroin in his car. The judge said the DVD—which included an appearance by NBA star Carmelo Anthony, a Baltimore native—did not affect the investigation but did influence sentencing.

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NBA player Carmelo Anthony, who earlier this year pleaded guilty to driving while ability-impaired and was sentenced to probation and community service, appeared in the first Stop Snitching DVD. (AP Photo)

The Baltimore man who shot the Stop Snitching DVD was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him on drug and gun charges. (AP Photo)

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The NBA Star and the Drug Dealer "stop snitching" DVD:In a highly controversial cameo, Carmelo Anthony bonds with old friends and mocks his FIBA bronze medal win (eViLj0kEr)

Stop Snitching New DVD:It's a DVD that highlighted the culture of witness intimidation in Baltimore. Now, the makers of the infamous Stop Snitching video have done it again. I-Team reporter Barry Simms has the story. (wbal)

Stop Snitching 2 DVD:The highly controversial "Stop Snitching" DVD gained national attention and multimedia coverage raising the bar for what is considered real in urban America. Fearing their message was too powerful Baltimore City and Maryland State officials attempted to pass legislation to prevent the filmmakers from producing a sequel but to no avail Producer Rodney Bethea and Host Skinny Suge bring you "Stop Snitching" Part 2 and continue to show the reality of hard times on hard streets.Learn the truth... (urlymedia)

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I was reading a script and holding a camera and basically laughing through the whole DVD. If I'm wrong for reading a script, then all of Hollywood is wrong." - Akira Matthews-Bey, videographer and convicted drug dealer

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Stop Snitching Cameraman Gets 30 Years