'Snitching' cameraman headed to prison

BALTIMORE, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The 35-year-old cameraman for the DVD "Stop Snitching" says he will spend 30 years in prison for his involvement with the Baltimore-based work.

Akiba Matthews-Bey alleged that due to his work on "Snitching," which focuses on the intimidation of Baltimore witnesses, authorities unfairly targeted him, The Baltimore Sun said Thursday.

"It's not like I killed somebody; I never did anything like that," said Matthews-Bey, who was convicted on drug and gun charges. "Why attack me? That got news media in courtroom. That paints a picture like I'm a monster."

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake downplayed the defendant's role in the DVD as the reason for his arrest and conviction, saying there was no evidence to support such a claim.

Yet the federal judge did add some choice words during Wednesday's sentencing for "Snitching," the Sun reported.

"That video is contrary to any notion as to how people should approach (dealing with) -- law enforcement," Blake said.