PHILADELPHIA, April 27 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia drug dealer said during an imam's racketeering trial that he paid the Muslim cleric cash for his influence in the drug underworld.
Rodney Saunders told the U.S. District Court Tuesday that he regularly gave money to a mosque and school run by 67-year-old Shamsud-din Ali, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.
Saunders, who is serving a five-year sentence for cocaine trafficking, was one of two drug dealers who alleged Ali had influence among Philadelphia drug dealers. As one example, Saunders said he had settled a dispute with another drug dealer in a meeting at Ali's school that was set up by one of the imam's associates.
Dealer Leonard Wideman testified that he believed Ali had vouched for two men in a drug transaction.
The racketeering trial is the result of a four-year city hall corruption probe.
Ali's defense lawyer argued that references to drug dealing were prejudicial, especially since his client did not face narcotics charges. The lawyer was expected to argue for a mistrial Wednesday morning, the Inquirer said.
