Drug Protection Scheme Lands Witch Doctor In Prison

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — A Nigerian man who federal prosecutors say portrayed himself as a "witch doctor" has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from cocaine traffickers looking to get his supernatural protection from authorities.

Christopher Omigie, a naturalized U.S. citizen who had been living in Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Beaumont, Texas. He pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Prosecutors say the 58-year-old provided traffickers with card readings, massages with magic ointments, razor blade cuttings and various magic powders, belts, coconuts and rocks to keep law enforcement away.

They didn't work.

His main clients were caught and have pleaded guilty to schemes involving cocaine trafficking.