Feds say hit man fell for their sting

Lamont Lewis, a suspected hit man in six murders-by-arson aimed at intimidating a federal witness in 2004, was indicted yesterday on federal drug charges and in an attempted murder-for-hire scheme.

Last month, the feds set up a murder-for-hire sting to snare Lewis, 30, of West Philadelphia, in an attempt to get him off the street. Authorities said he had been selling drugs and had assaulted police officers in early August in a bar near 9th and Venango.

Yesterday, Lewis was indicted on charges of selling crack cocaine on four occasions: 125 grams on July 11; 104 grams on July 24; 14 grams on July 26, and 170 grams on Aug. 16. He allegedly collected $17,000 in drug proceeds, according to authorities.

He also was charged with carrying a gun in a drug-trafficking crime, and agreeing, in an Aug. 15 meeting at the Pub restaurant in Pennsauken, to travel interstate to kill someone.

Yesterday, co-defendant Makie Dent was indicted on charges of aiding and abetting in the sale of 170 grams of crack cocaine on Aug. 15.

Lewis is an associate of Kaboni Savage, a notorious drug trafficker jailed for 30 years for operating a violent drug organization.

Authorities believe that Savage ordered a hit on the family of his onetime top aide, Eugene "Twin" Coleman, a drug dealer and hit man who became a federal witness.

According to authorities, Savage allegedly ordered Lewis and another suspect, Robert Merrick, now serving a 194-month sentence for federal gun possession, to carry out the murders.

Killed in the early-morning fire that raced through the North Philadelphia house were Coleman's mother, Marcella Coleman, 54, a prison guard at the city's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility; his son, Damir Jenkins, 15 months; a cousin, Tamika Nash, 33; Nash's daughter, Khadijah, 10; a nephew, Sean Anthony Rodriguez, 15, and a friend, Tajh Porchea, 12.

According to court records and wiretapped conversations, Savage allegedly instructed his sister, Kidada, whom he used as an intermediary, to tell Lamont "Mont" Lewis "to get that done."

A few minutes later, Lewis arrived at Savage's home and Savage asked to speak to him. Savage told Lewis that he was "like family," and the only one he could trust "with that," according to federal wiretapped conversations.

Savage told Lewis Kidada would explain everything to him: "You're gonna feel it when she says it - 'cause you're gonna understand," records said.

An FBI eavesdropping device, placed near the toilet in Savage's cell, recorded the kingpin threatening to pour "barbecue sauce" on the bodies of the burn victims. *