3 men indicted on charges for murder of federal witness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging three men with conspiring to kill, and ultimately murdering, a witness in a federal investigation.

The indictement states 47-year-old Anyelle Curtley Sr. of Louisville, 48-year-old Delrico Nelson of Illinois and 48-year-old Antoyne Penick of Louisville are each charged with conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing and conspiracy to retaliate against a witness or informant by killing, according to a release by the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky.

Officials say the indictment alleges that, between December 28, 2023 and January 31, 2023, Curtley Sr., Nelson and Penick “conspired and agreed to kill Victim 1 with the intent to prevent the testimony of Victim 1 in an official proceeding to prevent Victim 1 from communicating with a law enforcement officer or judge information relating to the commission of a federal offense.”

In addition, the superseding indictment states the three men allegedly conspired and agreed to kill the victim in “retaliation for providing information to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a federal offense.”

The indictment also states Curtley Sr. and Nelson aided and abetted each other to kill Victim 1, who was a person assisting a federal investigation, “while that assistance was being rendered and because of it.”

Finally, the indictment alleges that Curley Sr. and Nelson aided and abetted each other in the murder of the victim by using a firearm.

According to officials, this indictment supersedes an indictment returned March 5, 2024, charging Curtley Sr. and others with drug trafficking and firearms related charges.

The initial indictment from March 2024 charged Curtley Sr. and others with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, officials say. Curtley Sr. was also charged with a money laundering conspiracy.

Curtley Sr. was also charged with distributing methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Penick was also charged with distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Curtley Sr., Nelson and Penick have been ordered detained pending trial.

If convicted of the offenses alleged in the superseding indictment, all three defendants face a potential sentence of death, life or any term of years.

This case is being investigated by the DEA, FBI, HSI, ATF, IRS-CI and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police and Macomb, Illinois Police Department.