Coffee Poisoning Suspect Is Indicted

A man held on attempted murder and other charges in the death of a business associate who'd hoped to testify at the unrelated racketeering trial of James "Whitey" Bulger has been indicted.

Prosecutors said Thursday's indictment charges 69-year-old William Camuti of Sudbury with attempted murder, misleading police and unlawful disposition of human remains. Camuti has pleaded not guilty to those charges in district court. His Superior Court arraignment hasn't been set.

Fifty-nine-year-old Stephen Rakes of Quincy learned just before his July death he wouldn't be called as a witness against Bulger, who was convicted in August. Rakes said Bulger forced him to sell his business to him in the 1980s.

Prosecutors say Camuti owed Rakes money. They say he lured Rakes to a meeting, poisoned his iced coffee, then drove Rakes around for hours before dumping his body.