Tag: prison

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FM Legal Jail Tales Trending

Young Dolph Murder Suspect Sentenced To Two Years In Prison

prison

Justin Johnson, the suspect in Young Dolph’s murder case, has been sentenced to prison and is going to jail for two years. Turns out that he had violated his supervised release.

The supervised release was due to a previous weapons charge. It is not believed to be related to Young Dolph’s murder.

A week ago, Judge Mark Norris told Johnson how “bitterly disappointed” he is in him. Johnson wasted the multiple opportunities that the court had provided him. Johnson pleaded guilty to the violations of missing mandatory drug screenings and therapy, not being regularly employed, failing to seek permission before leaving the jurisdiction, and being arrested.

The last two are from January, when he was arrested for being suspected of Young Dolph’s murder. He was arrested by U.S marshals in Indiana.

The 23-year-old was just ready to put the case behind him. He was more concerned with the other cases. He accepted the two year jail time without complaint.

Johnson’s other cases

In November 2021, Young Dolph was buying cookies for his mother when someone shot him 22 times and drove off. Dolph’s brother was with him at the time of the incident. The murderer stole the getaway vehicle a week prior to the rapper’s untimely death. Police found the getaway car where Johnson had shot a music video once, as he is one of the suspects in the Memphis musician’s case. The other suspect is Cornelius Smith.

On top of the Young Dolph case, Johnson also has to deal with a sex offender registry case. The specifics of this case are not known, however.

On Mar. 18, Johnson was attacked in prison. He was making a phone call to his lawyer, Juni Ganguli, in the prison’s visitation area. A fellow inmate punched Johnson, but he was not seriously injured. It is not known who attacked him or their motives for it.

Written by Justin Acosta

Twitter: @hahalacka

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FM Legal FM News Jail Tales Trending

Angela Simmons Speaks In Court Following A Life Sentence For The Killer Of Her Ex-Fiance

Angela Simmons
CREDIT: CHRIS VEITH PHOTOGRAPHY

It has been a long road to justice for 34-year-old Angela Simmons. As of Friday, Apr. 15, she witnessed the sentencing of a man accused of killing her ex-fiance and father of her child, Sutton Tennyson. As reported by TMZ, Michael Williams and the rest of the court heard an emotional speech delivered by the shoe designer earlier yesterday.

Simmons shared that their 5-year-old son, named after his deceased father, “constantly asks her when his dad will come back.”  Nevertheless, she emphasized the young boy “will forever wonder what it would be like to grow up with a dad.” Also, she “cries all the time, knowing how excited Sutton was about raising their kid.”

Angela Simmons
Angela Simmons and Sutton Tennyson at Medusa Lounge. Image Source: Prince Williams/Getty Images

Michael Williams Is Sentenced To Life In Prison For Killing Angela Simmon’s Ex-Fiancé

In an emotional exchange, the mother of one child shared that her ex is no longer with her, but their son will carry on his legacy.

Furthermore, Williams received life imprisonment for murder and an additional 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. However, to be eligible for parole, he must serve at least 30 years in prison.

In 2018, Tennyson was found dead in his garage after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. As a result of a police investigation, authorities determined that two men were conversing in the driveway when the conversation became heated and ultimately ended with gunfire.

Overall, after turning himself in a few days later, Williams ended up with eight counts. These include murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm.

FMHipHop sends its sincerest condolences to Angela Simmons, their son, and the Tennyson family during this challenging time. May the soul of Sutton Tennyson rest in peace.

Written by Nikiya Biggs

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FM Politics Trending

Ghislaine Maxwell Convicted of Sex Crimes Against Teen Girls

Ghislaine Maxwell, ex-girlfriend and confidante of the billionaire sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, has been found guilty of sex trafficking. Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and indicted for her alleged involvement with sexual crimes committed by Epstein. The Department of Justice detailed that her charges were multiple counts of criminal sexual activity and perjury in a press release. 

Ghislaine Maxwell Before the Indictment

Ghislaine Maxwell grew up privileged in Oxford, England. Her father was the owner of Pergamon Press. Because of her family’s wealth and pedigree, she rubbed elbows with much of England’s elite.

After Maxwell’s father passed away in the mid-90s, she relocated to New York permanently, where she met Jeffrey Epstein. Initially, they dated. Over time, accounts from others became unclear as to the actual nature of their relationship.

Maxwell’s townhome and Epstein’s mansion were a stone’s throw away from one another, and that she worked as Epstein’s assistant. She also accompanied him to many high-society events. For instance, in 2000, they attended a gathering at the Queen’s Sandringham House via invitation of Prince Andrew. They were friends of Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

In 2005, Palm Beach Police opened an investigation on Epstein based on an accusation made by the parents of a 14-year old girl. They reported that Epstein paid their daughter for a massage at his home and molested her. Soon the FBI became involved. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a child for prostitution and served 13 months in jail.

Indictment and Conviction

Maxwell began publicly distancing herself from Epstein after his release, and she married millionaire Scott Borgerson. Until Epstein got under arrest and faced sex trafficking charges in 2019, the FBI began investigating Maxwell for her involvement.

Upon her arrest, authorities transported Maxwell to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The court held her with no bail because they considered her a flight risk. Thus far, Maxwell’s attorneys have reported that she has deteriorated from the physical abuse and inhumane treatment from corrections staff at MDC since her detainment. 

Maxwell pleaded not guilty and denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Her trial began on November 29th, and defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim did everything to discredit the four victims who testified against Ms. Maxwell. The defense claimed the accusers were money motivated and scapegoated her since Epstein’s suicide in August 2019. 

However, the evidence presented by the prosecution and victim testimony (from 4 out of the 36 girls identified by federal officials who made similar allegations) made clear. Since 1994, the defendant enticed and groomed young girls to participate in sex acts and occasionally joined alongside Epstein in the abuse. 

Closing arguments for the defense were on December 20th. The jury deliberated over six days, ultimately deciding upon a guilty verdict for five out of six counts. U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan has not set Ms. Maxwell’s sentencing hearing. Still, according to the maximum penalties for each charge, she faces up to 65 years in prison. 

By Alicia Hughley

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White Boy Rick on Eminem’s Portrayal of Him: “An Honor!”

No matter your life story, trials and tribulations, you know you’re really something when Eminem portrays you in a TV show. Indeed, for Richard Wershe Jr., it must be a good day. The former FBI informant, drug-and-weapons runner, and possible political insider has a different name in the annals of history: White Boy Rick.

Eminem’s portrayal of White Boy Rick will feature prominently of the next episode of 50 Cent’s Black Mafia Family (BMF). Actually, the first look is already out. Or rather, this past weekend, it leaked, giving viewers a glimpse of Eminem as White Boy Rick. Following the leak, VladTV reached out to Wershe Jr. for a comment. The man himself was all positivity, writing:

“Eminem is awesome! And it was an honor! Detroit!!!”

50 Cent announced back in August that Eminem would be included in BMF as White Boy Rick. 50 Cent posted to Twitter saying that he was “bringing the big dogs out”, including couldn’t do a Detroit based show “without incorporating the legend @eminem.”

In August, Wershe Jr. gave his blessing to 50 Cent, Eminem and BMF in a video by TMZ.

“Of course, it’s Eminem so that’s an honor to have him portray me in a series. He was actually one of the first people that was looking at doing the movie about me so it’s pretty cool that later down the line, he gets to take on this role.” Wershe Jr. added, “I’m a fan, you know. It’s an honor to have him do it. He’s a Detroit legend…so from one Detroiter to another, just, you know, kill it!”

The episode, entitled “All in The Family”, will air this Sunday (November 14) on STARZ.

Detroit’s BMF and White Boy Rick

BMF follows the history of the Black Mafia Family, an organization founded on the drug trade and money laundering. At the helm were the brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenroy and Terry “Southwest T” Flenroy, kingpins of southwest Detroit in the 1980s.

White Boy Rick himself became an FBI informant in 1984, at the age of 14. In 1987, age 17, the FBI effectively abandoned him when he was arrested for possession of 8 kilograms of cocaine. White Boy Rick spent 27 years is prison, only being released in June 2020. The extraordinary length of the sentence for a nonviolent drug crime came by way of the notorious, now nonexistent 650 Lifer Law. However, some say it may also be linked to the political turmoil Wershe Jr. caused to the powerful figures of Detroit.

 

 

 

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Jail Tales Trending

R. Kelly Placed on Suicide Watch After Trial

Following the September 27 guilty verdict, a lawyers representing R. Kelly has revealed that the disgraced singer was placed on suicide watch.

Steve Greenberg, appearing  on Wednesday (October 20) before Chicago U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, told the judge of Kelly’s placement on the watch. After being found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, the monitoring began. While Kelly never expressed any desire or indications of self-harm, the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn was taking no chances. When facing substantial punishment for crimes, federal authorities have found it wise to keep an eye on prisoners. It is unclear just much time Kelly spent on the suicide watch. However, we can confirm that he is no longer on watch, and the restrictions have been relaxed.

While not actively looking to harm himself, Kelly is reportedly looking to change legal teams. In the wake of the verdict, Greenberg claims that Kelly is “looking to bring in new lawyers from New York”.  After all, he hasn’t even been sentenced yet. Final sentencing for the racketeering-trafficking trial is set to take place May 4, 2022. He was found guilty in September of eight counts of the Mann Act. The act is an anti-sex trafficking statute which includes transporting minors over state borders for prostitution. In addition to this, he was also found guilty of one count of racketeering.

The trials continue

And what’s more, Kelly will be in trial yet again the following August on more sex abuse charges.

Kelly, along with associates Derrel McDavid and Milton “June” Brown are all charged with numerous sexual abuse charges. These include producing child pornography. By court records, Kelly videotaped himself having sexual relations with three underage girls. He faces ten years minimum for the child pornography charge. The Grio previously reported that Kelly has plead not guilty to these charges.

Garrett C. Owen

Twitter | Instagram

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‘Love & Hip Hop’ Star Mo Fayne Gets 17.5 Years for Bank and Wire Fraud

“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star Maurice “Mo” Fayne has been sentenced to seventeen and a half years behind bars for his role in a federal bank and wire fraud. In addition, the rapper has been ordered to pay $4,465,866 in restitution.

Fayne pled guilty to six counts in court, including bank and wire fraud. These crimes stem from his misuse of PPP (Paycheck Protection Funds) payments from the government. The purpose of the government money is to help businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of assisting his small business, Fayne used the money to fund a luxurious lifestyle.

Mo Fayne, Arrested, Fraud
Mo Fayne, January 29, 2020 (via Instagram @arkansas_mo)

The case against Mo Fayne

Receiving $2 million in PPP loans for his trucking business, Flame Trucking,  Fayne used more than $300,000 of that money for himself. Expenses included: $85,000 worth of jewelry; a $136,000 Rolls-Royce; $40,000 in past-due child support; and $90,000 to start a new business in Atlanta, according to TMZ. Included in the jewelry purchase were a $3,750 diamond ring, a $24,500 diamond bracelet and a $52,000 Rolex watch. He even posted a picture of himself bedecked in the jewelry on his Instagram.

Fayne originally cut a plea deal with prosecutors for 151 months in prison. Yet on Wednesday, the judge sentenced Mo to 210. Fayne took the agreement to avoid a whopping thirty years for financial crimes. In the plea deal, fourteen counts would have dropped, related to his involvement in a separate crime: a Ponzi scheme.

Mo bad moves

Arrested back in May of 2020, Fayne claimed he used the PPP money as payroll for his trucking employees. The issue? The company never made enough money to cover expenses. In fact, the money the company did bring in was through more than $5 million in investments from various individuals. Worse still, bank records show that the account for Flame Trucking was closed in September of 2019. Fayne then allegedly took the invested money and paid off his gambling debts. What remained of that money went towards more jewelry and more child support payments.

Suffice to say, Mo Fayne will not be making any guest appearances on “Love & Hip Hop” anytime soon.

Be sure to read more articles on our website.

 

Garrett C. Owen 

Instagram  | Twitter

 

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Lecrae’s New Projects: Financial Planning Series and Hip-Hop Convict Contest

Lecrae has a long list of accomplishments. He’s already a rapper, producer, songwriter, music executive, philanthropist, best-selling author, actor, business owner, and entrepreneur. But he’s not done yet.

Indeed, the Grammy winner is expanding into media production. Partnering with Experian North America, a leading information services company, he has launched “Protect The Bag” . 

Financial planning with Lecrae

This six-part web series will break down the complex world of personal finance, giving viewers the skills they need improve their credit and meet their financial needs. In a recent interview, Lecrae said:

“I am on a mission to spread the word on financial education because I wasn’t educated about money and didn’t know about budgeting. I didn’t know to think about the cost of things or what to pay off first because I just didn’t have a strategy.”   

Lecrae's web series, contest
Grammy Award winning artist Lecrae on the set of “Protect The Bag”. (Photo credit: Business Wire)

With Lecrae’s own production company at the helm, 3 Strand Films, the series premiers this fall. Joining Lecrae will be a number of high-profile guests, as well as artists on his record label. Look for it on his YouTube channel soon.

Hip-hop from the big house

In addition to spreading the word of financial literacy, Lecrae is venturing into the world of incarceration. The mission: find, produce, and release music from convicts currently serving time.

Called “The Original Hip Hop Track Contest”, Lecrae and Aventiv Technologies have partnered to create a contest for aspiring artists behind bars. Contestants will get to pick from three beats to work with, produced by Lecrae and long-time collaborator Zaytoven.

In a recent press release to Blavity, Lecrae spoke on the project:

“There are very few opportunities that give those locked up a sense of hope, and even fewer that encourage and recognize the level of musical talent that sits in our prison system – this contest does both, which is why I’m proud to be involved.” 

The top twenty entries will be sent to Bernard Short and his staff of the music department at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. However, only three get to move on to the final round. Lecrae and Zaytoven will select the best of the three.

The announcement of the winner will come on October 19, 2021. From there, Lecrae and Zaytoven will record and produce the winner on site at their facility.

Any revenues earned from the project will go directly to “a  501c3 charity providing rehabilitative services for the correctional community in the winner’s state.”

 

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Kid Cudi calls Bill Cosby supporters ‘f****n idiots’

Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi isn’t having it

Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi has always been one for the people.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court unexpectedly released actor Bill Cosby from prison. He served almost 3 years for sexual assault. Over 60 different women accused him of misconduct. The decision to free him came not from a revelation of innocence, but from a violation of his due process rights.

Since his release, there’s been plenty of celebrity commentary on the subject. Public figures have shown support as well as outrage. Plenty of Hollywood actors blasted the decision, from Rosie O’Donnell to Rosana Arquette. Phylicia Rashad, a star of The Cosby Show, has been one of the few to praise Cosby’s release.

Kid Cudi delivered one of the most talked-about comments on the situation.

There’s no holding back

The Man on the Moon III rapper didn’t hold back, letting everyone know he thinks Cosby’s recent supporters are “f****n idiots.” The tweet gathered over 11k retweets and 57k likes.

Kid Cudi

Cudi received plenty of backlash in his comments. People called out his old lyrics, brought up his past battles with depression, and even brought up him wearing a dress on Saturday Night Live.

The rapper did not respond to any of these malicious comments and seems to be holding his ground on the situation.

Andrew “Jetlag” Preisig | IG @ThankYouJetlag | Twitter @ThankYouJetlag

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Bobby Shmurda is Released From Prison

Rapper Bobby Shmurda has been released from prison in New York!

The rapper was sentenced to seven years in prison in October 2016 after pleading guilty to conspiracy and weapon possessions as part of a plea deal.

Shmurda’s prison release date was reported to be bumped up to Tuesday, 10 months earlier than the scheduled release, due to good behavior and prison program participation.

This past Monday, Shmurda’s new Instagram account posted a music video displaying clips from the 1990 crime movie, “Kings of New York,” seemingly giving hints to a comeback. “How the f—c y’all forget about me,” the caption read.

Since his release, his Instagram shot up to over 2 million followers and is already verified.

Although Shmurda has racked up 11 violations, including allegedly having a shank, drug possession, and fighting, it looks like he turned things around for the betterment of his career.

This is excellent news for the City of New York and the recent release of Rowdy Rebel as well. New York is going to have one hot summer.

Check out Bobby Shmurda’s first moments out of prison below!

https://youtu.be/XZj_eBP9JgA

 

writer: Kacee Marie

Instagram: @iamkaceemarie

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Lil Wayne Faces 10 Years In Prison For Federal Gun Possession

Lil Wayne | Ramona Rosales
Lil Wayne | Ramona Rosales
Lil Wayne | Ramona Rosales
Lil Wayne | Ramona Rosales

Yesterday, Rapper Lil Wayne was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon in Florida. The charges arise from the search of a private jet in Miami last December. If convicted, he will spend 10 years in federal prison.

This isn’t the first time the rapper has gotten in trouble with the law. Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., he recently pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a weapon in connection with a gun found on his tour bus in Manhattan. In 2009, he served 8 months of his 1 year sentence at Rikers Island Jail in New York. Released in 2016, he created a prison memoir called “Gone ‘Til November: A Journal of Rikers Island”.

Wayne’s Charges

Authorities found a gold-plated .45-caliber Glock handgun with a pearl grip in Wayne’s Coach bag, along with bullets, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, pain killers and prescription-strength cough syrup. He also had $25,938 in cash. The 38-year-old will not be charged with any drug-related offenses.

His lawyer, Howard Srebnick, raised questions about Wayne’s Second Amendment rights. Although he is a felon, the lawyer said in an email that possession of a weapon by a felon not judged to be dangerous may not fit the definition of this said crime.

The court date is set for December 11th in Miami, Florida in federal court.

Wayne’s Influence

The New Orleans native has been famous since a young age and is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Wayne has won 5 Grammys and numerous other music awards. Additionally, he’s sold over 120 million records, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. His most recent LP, “Funeral” quickly hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart this February, making it his fifth title to reach No. 1!

Carter owns a home in Miami Beach and serves as CEO at his record label, Young Money Entertainment. He also recently appeared alongside Trump before the election, and received backlash from fans for vouching for the administration’s work in the Black community. Lil Wayne tweet after the meeting, “He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done”.

Kristen Fessler| IG: @kristenfess | Twitter: @kristenfessler