Suspects in Vermont murder for hire case plead not guilty

Two of the three suspects dealing with federal fees in a case that led to the 2018 killing of a Vermont man pleaded not responsible Thursday to a brand new cost of wire fraud as a part of a transcontinental murder-for-hire case.

The third suspect within the abduction and killing of Gregory Davis of Danville additionally appeared in court docket by video Thursday, however he was not charged with fraud.

Serhat Gumrukcu and Berk Eratay have been charged earlier this month in an up to date indictment with wire fraud as a part of the case that led to the kidnapping and taking pictures dying of Gregory Davis, 49, of Danville. The 2 males have been beforehand charged with arranging to have the third defendant, Jerry Banks, kidnap and kill Davis.

The attorneys for Gumrukcu and Eratay entered not responsible pleas on their behalf to the brand new cost. Banks’ legal professional mentioned her consumer maintained the not responsible plea he entered earlier this yr to the kidnapping and homicide cost.

All three defendants appeared in court docket from the correctional services the place they’re being held with out bail.

Prosecutors have alleged that Davis was killed as a result of he was able to go to the FBI to complain that Gumrukcu, 40, a local of Turkey who immigrated to the US in 2013 who was residing in Los Angeles when he was arrested in Might, was failing to reside as much as his obligations in an oil buying and selling deal.

In 2017, Gumrukcu was additionally placing collectively a special deal by means of which he obtained a major possession stake in Enochian Biosciences, a Los Angeles primarily based biotechnology firm. Prosecutors have mentioned that if Davis would have complained to the FBI about Gumrukcu it may have jeopardized the biotechnology deal.

After Davis’ dying, investigators labored for greater than 4 years to construct a series connecting the 4 suspects: Banks, who was buddies with Aron Lee Ethridge, of Las Vegas, who was buddies with Eratay, who labored for Gumrukcu.

Ethridge pleaded responsible final summer season and is awaiting sentencing.