The fiancée of a Bristol man awaiting trial in Bucks County for the rape and robbery of a Philadelphia prostitute is accused of planning to try and bribe his accuser so she wouldn’t testify in the case.
Kalesha Cruz, 28, of Bensalem, was arraigned Friday on felony conspiracy to witness intimidation and criminal use of a communication facility charges before District Judge Mark Douple. She was released on $250,000 unsecured bail.
A Bucks County Detectives investigation found that Cruz and her boyfriend, Kareem Evans, 21, had multiple telephone discussions about how they could find out the identity of the victim and contact her before and after his preliminary hearing, according to court papers.
The first conversation allegedly occurred Aug. 13 — four days after Evans and co-defendant Qudre McMilan, 18, also of Bristol, were arrested on rape, robbery and related charges and incarcerated. During the telephone call Evans provided Cruz with information about how to find the woman and told her to contact McMilan’s mother about the plan so she could put “bread” up to it, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
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| Kareem Evans |
“The more bread the easier,” Evans said, according to an affidavit of probable cause. “Bread” is slang for money, authorities said.
Evans and Cruz allegedly continued discussing identifying, locating and contacting the victim in calls placed to the prison on Aug. 14, 15 and 16, according to the affidavit.
On Aug. 22, Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia intercepted a piece of mail from Evans to Cruz. In the letter, Evans admitted to robbing the woman, adding “things got out of hand,” according to the affidavit. Evans added that the woman was a prostitute and that if Cruz offered her money “I’m sure she won’t show up. Just need to get the contact information.”
In a telephone conversation five days later, Cruz told Evans to call a number that he believed was connected with the victim and offer money. He also told Cruz to make sure his brother was outside the district court early the day of his preliminary hearing so he could “wait outside and meet the person ... with a couple dollars,” police said.
Evans and Cruz allegedly discussed their plan to offer the victim money again on Sept. 1 and Evans allegedly told Cruz to have a “bean” ready for Sept. 10 — the day of his and McMilan’s preliminary hearing on the charges. A “bean” is slang for $100, according to authorities.
After the preliminary hearing — where all charges were held against Evans and McMilan — Evans and Cruz continued discussing ways to find the alleged victim.
Authorities allege that Evans contacted the 19-year-old Philadelphia woman through her online ad and made arrangements to meet in the 200 block of Market Street in Bristol. At a September preliminary hearing the woman testified after she was taken to a nearby vacant home where she was raped at gunpoint by Evans and McMilan, who also took her cellphone.
They remain incarcerated at Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $5 million bail each.
Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia
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