South Carolina, U.S (McN) – 21-year-old Joey Meek, of Lexington, South Carolina, and the alleged racist friend of hate crime convict Dylan Roof faces jail time for lying to the Feds.
An unrepentant Dylann Roof was sentenced to death for fatally shooting nine black church members during a Bible study session, becoming the first person ordered executed for a federal hate crime.
The FBI is investigating reports that his close friend and roommate Joey Meek knew about the planned attack before it took place.
Reports are that, during a cocaine binge with vodka and marijuana, Dylan Roof, who is convicted of the murder of nine African Americans at Emmanuel AME church, allegedly told his friend Joey Meek of his plot to commit murder.
Meek told the media that Roof stayed with him at his trailer home in Red Bank, about 20 miles from Columbia, before the attack at AME.
Joey Meek denied knowing Roof’s plans to FBI, but later admitted to being aware of plans for the hate act. He faces twenty-seven to thirty-three months in jail for lying to the FBI.
His sentence was put off in February because the prosecutors are seeking a longer jail time. Many persons say he deserves life in prison, while other believe there was nothing much he could have done to prevent it.
Meek maintains his innocence. He said he called authorities as soon as he saw Roof’s image on television.