Baltimore city prosecutors are pursuing emergency court measures after the identity of a key witness in a high-profile murder-for-hire case was leaked online. The witness, Keith Ambush, a local rapper known as YNE Sosa, was expected to testify against two alleged hit men, Keith Brian Russell and Cornell Moore.
Under a court order, Ambush's cooperation with federal authorities in the investigation named 'Fallen Angel' was supposed to remain confidential. However, documents detailing his involvement surfaced in a YouTube video that has since gone viral, accumulating over 50,000 views and inciting a wave of social media commentary, including accusations of him being a 'snitch.'
In response to the leak, city prosecutors swiftly filed for an emergency hearing to investigate how the sensitive information was disclosed. Judge Robert Taylor Jr. has scheduled a hearing for Friday morning. Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Mildenberg noted in a motion that the state had not distributed physical copies of the protected material, which had only been shared digitally with the defense attorneys for Moore and Russell.
The YouTube video in question raised alarms about potential witness intimidation, as it demonstrated that copies of the protected documents had been disseminated, violating the court's protective order. Defense attorney Natalie Finegar has denied sharing any documents with her client or others, asserting her compliance with the court's directives.
Russell and Moore, both 40, are facing trial this fall for a murder-for-hire scheme linked to numerous shootings and homicides from 2020 to 2022. Among the cases connected to them is the tragic May 2022 shooting of Yahmell Montague and his fiancée, Angel Smith, who was seven months pregnant at the time. The baby survived the incident.
Originally set for trial earlier this year, the case faced delays, with prosecutors citing concerns that revealing witness identities could pose significant risks. While Baltimore has seen a reduction in violence, the leaked documents underscore ongoing challenges related to witness safety.
Ambush, now 30, is currently incarcerated in Alabama on unrelated drug charges. His attorney, Whitney Tillman, has stated she cannot comment on the matter.
The investigation into this case was led by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, alongside the Baltimore Police, marking a significant effort from the Major Investigations Unit of the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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