West Sacramento, Calif. – December 7, 2023
In a gripping legal saga, Kamaal Yusuf, a West Sacramento man already facing a second-degree murder charge for an alleged fentanyl-related overdose death, is now headed to trial for an additional charge: attempting to obstruct a witness from testifying in the murder case.
Yusuf is accused of orchestrating witness interference by collaborating with a former El Dorado County Jail cellmate, Bobby Cody, to dissuade his ex-girlfriend, Kaitlyn Caraotta, from cooperating with investigators. The preliminary examination of the case unfolded on November 27 in El Dorado County Superior Court’s Department 1.
A Murder Case Unfolding: Fentanyl Overdose in Shingle Springs
Yusuf’s legal entanglements began with the alleged sale of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, colloquially known as blue M30s, to 20-year-old Gillian Peterson-Murray and her boyfriend. Tragically, Peterson-Murray’s use of the pills led to a fatal overdose in her Shingle Springs home on May 26, 2022, according to prosecutors.
Awaiting trial for the murder charge, Yusuf now faces an additional legal battle for allegedly attempting to interfere with a key witness in the case.
Witness Tampering Allegations: Cody and Communication with Caraotta
During the preliminary examination, it was revealed that Yusuf and Cody shared a jail cell between May 27 and July 5, with Cody later being released. Despite the release, call logs indicated ongoing communication between the two.
Witness Kaitlyn Caraotta, who had initially cooperated with investigators, alleged that she faced persistent attempts by Yusuf, through Cody, to dissuade her from testifying. The communication involved texts from an individual identified as “BoCo” (later revealed to be Bobby Cody), pressuring Caraotta to allow Yusuf and his family to visit their shared children.
Jail Call Records as Evidence: Delivering Flowers and Coordinated Efforts
Evidence presented during the examination included recordings of calls between Yusuf and Cody. These calls revealed Yusuf instructing Cody to deliver flowers and a letter to Caraotta’s home. Cody, a founding member of the Trigger Mob, a Del Paso Heights Bloods gang set, frequently used derogatory language when discussing Caraotta, indicating a potential motive for witness interference.
Despite defense arguments that the communication lacked explicit threats, Judge Vicki Ashworth deemed the evidence substantial enough to proceed to trial, citing the context of the calls and texts as critical elements.
A Troubling Pattern: Previous Attempts to Alter Evidence
This case is not the first instance of Yusuf‘s alleged attempts to manipulate evidence. Earlier this year, prosecutors revealed that jail call records indicated Yusuf had directed family members to delete information from one of his cell phones.
Yusuf and Cody are set to return to Department 1 on December 11 for an arraignment. If pleas remain unchanged, a trial date will be determined. Additionally, Cody faces additional charges for violating parole on a felony drug charge from 2022, adding further complexity to the legal proceedings. As the community awaits the unfolding trial, this case stands as a stark example of the far-reaching consequences of alleged drug-related crimes and witness interference.
