MEMPHIS — A Memphis jury has convicted two cousins charged with being contract killers for a drug ring linked with a Mexican cartel.
The verdict for Clinton Lewis and Martin Lewis came Friday in a federal racketeering and murder for hire case. The charges could carry a life sentence.
Several former gang members testified that the Lewises were enforcers for a Memphis-based ring that imported drugs from Mexico and sold them in five states.
Victim Marcus Turner was kidnapped and killed in September 2006; Mario McNeal was shot to death at a Memphis restaurant in March 2007.
Defense attorneys argued the gang members’ testimony was tainted because they cut sentencing deals with the prosecution. Gang leader Craig Petties pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and ordering four murders.