BMF witness threatened

One of a handful of witnesses identified in court papers as being willing to testify against the Black Mafia Family has been issued a threat, according to a document filed in federal court last week.

Marc “Swift” Whaley, owner of an Orlando exotic car-rental business that leased drug-running vehicles to Black Mafia Family members, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. In exchange for his cooperation in other federal cases against BMF, a $270 million multistate cocaine ring headquartered in Atlanta, Detroit and L.A., Whaley received a reduced sentence of 30 months.

According to a document filed last week in federal court in Orlando, “Mr. Whaley has recently had violent threats made against him, which has necessitated the filing of a police report.”

Another document, filed earlier this year, states: “Defendant provided information to authorities in Georgia, New York and Michigan about BMF members in those jurisdictions.”

To date, more than 100 alleged BMF members have been indicted in five states, including 35 in Georgia.

Criminal cases against BMF members once had been difficult to uphold due to a blanket of silence that surrounded the crew” and because witnesses were hard-pressed to testify against them, law enforcement sources say.

On top of the threat against him, Whaley, who suffers from “uncontrolled blood pressure” and “very high cholesterol,” has had his prison stay postponed due to poor health, according to court documents.

“Mr. Whaley must be constantly monitored and ... [must] be seen every three to four weeks for follow-up tests and examinations, so as to avoid possible heart attack, stroke and death.”