Crime and Justice
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Sean Combs, also known widely as Diddy, has denied any involvement in an alleged gang rape that took place back in 2003 inside a recording studio. A lawyer for Jane Doe in this particular matter has also responded to the statement made by Sean Combs, adding that the women who have come forth about the mogul “speak for themselves.”
Sean Combs, 54, has been dogged by sexual abuse allegations and related claims after ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura came forward with a harrowing list of claims that prompted the celebrated producer to settle the matter out of court instead of taking things to trial.
PEOPLE has obtained documents from the case which focuses on the alleged event taking place inside a Manhattan recording studio. The claim also named Harve Pierre and another man as the attackers of the alleged then-17-year-old victim.
“[Combs] never participated in, witnessed, or was or is presently aware of any misconduct, sexual or otherwise, relating to plaintiff in any circumstance whatsoever,” a portion of the filing read.
The outlet added that Combs and his side also had questions regarding photos used in conjunction with the complaint from Jane Doe and viewed the timing as curious.
“The context, genuineness, and/or accuracy of the photographs are disputed,” the filing continues. “Plaintiff’s decision to wait more than two decades to file her complaint has prejudiced [Combs], as he has lost the ability to defend himself fully and fairly in this action.”
In response to the filing, the attorney for Jane Doe wrote, “The deeply troubling allegations against the defendants by multiple women speak for themselves. The ridiculous claim that the photos are somehow fake and the law at issue is unconstitutional are nothing more than desperate attempts to conjure a defense where none exists.”
Combs is seeking to have the lawsuit thrown out with his side saying that the Victims Gender-Motivated Violence Act used to spark the matter is “unconstitutional.”
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Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney who has brought an election tampering case in Georgia against former President Donald Trump, took the stand Thursday (Feb. 15) in a hearing connected to the case. Fani Willis took questions along with countering attacks on her character as Trump and his co-defendants are scrambling to have Willis dropped from the prosecution and have the matter tossed out of court.
Fani Willis is facing allegations from Trump’s defense attorney Ashley Merchant who claims that Willis used taxpayer money for personal vacations. Also at the center of questioning is Willis’ romantic relationship with special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, which Trump and his fellow co-defendants believe are grounds to have Willis and Wade removed from the case.
Willis and Wade admitted to the relationship, although testimony from those reportedly close to the pair professionally says that the timing of their relationship contradicted their recollections of their time together. When challenged on why they didn’t reveal the nature of their romance, both Willis and Wade stated that their connection was private.
In one especially tense moment of the hearing, Willis reminded the court that this was simply a hearing of facts and that she was not on trial despite the grilling she and Wade were facing. In answering why she didn’t share financial and personal records with the defense, Willis dropped one of the top zingers of the day.
“I object to you getting records. You’ve been intrusive into peoples’ personal lives. You’re confused. You think I’m on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial, no matter how hard you put me on trial,” Willis said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a live update of the hearing that can be found here.
On X, formerly Twitter, reactions are cropping in from all sides.
Read the replies below.
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A few weeks ago Tekashi 6ix9ine was arrested in the Dominican Republic for domestic violence, but the embattled rapper might get off scot-free as his girlfriend is unwilling to cooperate with authorities.
Dailymail UK is reporting that Tekashi was released from jail on bond after his girlfriend, Yailin La Más Viral, refused to talk to authorities about the incident that her mother, Wanda Díaz, reported to the police. Looks like Yailin can teach Tekashi a thing or two about keeping your lips sealed. Tekashi was taken into custody on January 17 after Wanda Díaz accused the rapper of assaulting both her and her daughter, Yailin.
When it came time to show up in court and co-sign the claims, Yailin La Más Viral denied her mother’s claims and told Judge Fátima Veloz that Tekashi never put his hands on her.
Per Dailymail UK:
Díaz, who did not attend the hearing because she was feeling ill because of a complication from a cosmetic surgery, accused Tekashi of beating her and Yailin Las Más Viral.
Díaz spoke during a live YouTube stream of Alofoke Radio Show moments after Tekashi was arrested while he was attempting to leave the country and revealed that he assaulted them after she tried to stop him from beating her daughter.
‘One time I was with her, they were arguing, he pushed me, he slammed me because I got involved, because he hit my daughter,’ she said. ‘I was thrown to the ground. (Tekashi’s) security did not do anything. I was there telling him not to continue beating my daughter and he kept on and I got involved.’
Judge Veloz imposed a bail of 30,000 pesos (about $509) on Tekashi which he gladly paid and walked out a free man.
Still, Tekashi is barred from leaving the Dominican Republic until he settles his original assault case that got him stuck over there in the first place. Back in October of 2023, Tekashi was arrested when he tried to flee the country after allegedly assaulting music producers, Cristian Rojas y Nelson Hilario. The most famous snitch in Hip-Hop history got jealous of the two men for spending too much time in the studio with his girlfriend, Yailin.
After he and a few of his friends jumped the two men, Tekashi tried to hightail it back to the U.S. only to get arrested at the airport after authorities noticed there was a warrant for his arrest. No word on when that original case might get settled and Tekashi can make his way back to the States, but best believe no one on this side of town misses having Tekashi out and about in America. Just sayin.’
What do y’all think of Yailin saying Tekashi never assaulted her? Is she speaking the truth or covering for her man? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Pras Michel is currently battling charges of working as a secret agent for the Chinese government, which could land the Fugees star several years behind bars. However, after a mid-month special hearing, Pras Michel might have a glimmer of hope that a retrial is underway as he awaits sentencing.
In a new article from Vulture, it was revealed that Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly oversaw a three-day hearing for Pras Michel and his new legal team to present a series of questions to the rapper’s former attorney, David Kenner. Michel is accusing Kenner of dialing it in while representing Michel, including a claim that the attorney used AI to write a closing statement.
Kenner, despite it all, says he tried his best to get Michel cleared of the charges and even supported his former client’s hopes of gaining a retrial.
“I’m on Team Pras,” Kenner said on the witness stand during the hearing earlier this month. “I did not think he should have been convicted. I hope he is granted the retrial he seeks.”
The hearing revealed that Kenner, 81, hired a medical malpractice lawyer to oversee the matter but that the gentlemen refused to attend any of the trial happenings due to not wanting to leave his pit bulls at home in Minneapolis. Instead, the attorney told the outlet that his dogs are aggressive and said that he’d be able to perform his tasks from home.
The fact that the judge overseeing the matter called this hearing suggests there is some credence to Michel’s new claims that Kenner did not represent his client correctly and possibly violated his constitutional rights.
“She’s a careful and smart and fair judge,” Paul Pelletier, a former Justice Department prosecutor, shared with Vulture. “Calling this hearing was the fair thing to do, given what she observed during trial.”
Kenner found fame after defending the likes of Suge Knight, Snoop Dog, and the late Tupac “2Pac” Shakur. Kenner was able to get Snoop Dogg acquitted of murder charges in 1996. It should be noted that beyond Kenner’s Hip-Hop credentials, he is an attorney of considerable notoriety but it appears that his health and unorthodox methods were a bad cocktail for Michel and his legal needs.
Pras Michel isn’t out of the woods yet as the judge is still set to issue a ruling at a later time but it isn’t readily known which way the pendulum will swing.
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Trontavious Stephens, a co-founder of YSL, took the stand in the ongoing RICO trial where Young Thug and his co-defendants hope to disassociate themselves from alleged ties to criminal activity. During the 20th day of the trial, Stephens explained Young Thug’s name, gang signs, and more.
As reported by local outlet Fox 5 Atlanta, Trontavious Stephens, 30, was questioned at length by prosecutors looking to land a big win in taking down Thug and his co-defendants over their alleged criminal acts. During the series of cross-examinations spanning days, Stephens, also known as Tick or Slug, discussed his YSL connection, alleged gang connections, and his plea deal.
On Monday (Jan. 22), LeBron James, Snoop Dogg, and other known figures were mentioned for their use of alleged gang signs. The defense raised a counter by saying that the insinuation that these figures are members of gangs or promoting gang culture can be proven.
The defense also played a clip of Snoop Dogg taking the stage at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show where the Long Beach rapper wore a blue bandana, assumed to be a reference to the Crips gang, along with the rapper’s signature “crip walk” and their side says that does not prove true affiliation. The defense showed Serena Williams doing the same dance in an earlier portion of the trial.
Stephens also hammered home to the prosecution that the “Thug” in Young Thug’s stage name stands for “Truly Humble Under God,” a point raised earlier in the trial. The trial was to resume on Wednesday (Jan. 24) but as Fox 5 Atlanta reports, the trial was halted for reasons not known to the public.
A recording of the trial can be seen below, along with reactions from X, formerly Twitter.
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Kodak Black bumped into some legal trouble last December after police discovered him asleep at the wheel of his car with a substance that was originally said to be cocaine in his mouth. Now, the attorney for the Florida rapper says that his client should have his charges dropped since he was using prescribed oxycodone.
As reported by TMZ, Kodak Black is seeking to have the drug charges from his Dec. 7 arrest tossed from the court. According to Bradford Cohen, Kodak’s attorney, a lab test concluded that the drugs found on his client’s person were lab-tested and proven to be prescription oxycodone thus making the criminal drug charges moot.
However, cops say they too tested the drugs at the scene of the arrest and claim that the powdery substance they found was allegedly reported to be cocaine thus leading to Kodak being hauled off to jail. He was later booked on possession, evidence tampering, and a traffic violation.
The situation for Kodak is most certainly impacted by the fact he’s already on probation but Cohen asserts that the substance that police discovered was oxycodone under the brand name Percocet. Cohen is asking the judge to clear his client of the existing charges.
The outcome for Kodak Black has yet to be revealed as a judge hasn’t ruled on the matter yet.
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FBG Duck, a rapper and reported gang member, was shot and killed in a downtown Chicago area now for luxury shopping during daytime back in 2020. Now, six alleged Chicago gang members have been charged with the murder of FBG Duck.
As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, FBG Duck, real name Carlton Weekly, was cornered in Chicago’s Gold Coast district with his girlfriend outside a clothing store in broad daylight. Prosecutors connected the brazen shooting to ongoing gang violence between Duck’s Tookaville gang set, part of the larger Gangster Disciples organization, and O Block, a faction of the Black Disciples.
After deliberations lasting two days, a federal jury handed down a conviction of the six men on Wednesday (Jan. 17) in connection to the shooting. The six men are Marcus “Muwop” Smart, 24; Christopher “C Thang” Thomas, 24; Kenneth “Kenny Mac” Roberson, 30; Charles “C Murda” Liggins, 32; Tacarlos “Los” Offerd, 32; and Ralph “Teezy” Turpin, 34. Each of them was found guilty of the murder in aid of racketeering and conspiring to murder FBG Duck.
In addition, Smart, Thomas, Roberson, Liggins, and Offerd were also convicted of using a firearm during the commission of the murder.
LaSheena Weekly, the mother of Duck, spoke to a gathering of media after the conviction.
“Knowing that they will not do that to another family brings me comfort, knowing they will not terrorize nobody else,” Ms. Weekly said. “They’re done, the whole crew. O Block and everything of it is done.”
She added, “I could never want another mother to feel like this, to see their child shot down in the street like a dog. They had FBG Duck death parties. That’s how much it meant to them.”
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G Herbo faced up to 20 years behind bars for a credit card scheme that involved a boutique puppy business, a Jamaican villa, and other illegally obtained assets. The Chicago rapper pleaded guilty to the charges last summer and received three years of probation related to the matter.
As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, G Herbo, 28, was handed down the three-year probation sentence on Thursday (January 11) after using stolen credit cards to finance a scheme that involved the aforementioned puppy business, private jets, and other items.
U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni ordered the rapper, who was born Herbert Wright III and once rapped under the moniker Lil Herb, to pay restitution totaling $139,968 and hand over assets equally that same amount according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts website:
“On social media, Mr. Wright boasted an extravagant lifestyle. He gave the impression that his use of private jets, luxury cars and tropical villas were the legitimate fruits of his booming rap career as “G Herbo.” However, his lavish lifestyle was shamelessly built on deceit and fraud using stolen account information that inflicted substantial harm on numerous businesses, leaving a wake of victims burdened with financial losses.” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case should serve as a stark reminder that breaking the law leads to prosecution and accountability, regardless of who you are, how many likes you rack up or how many followers you have.”
As was revealed in 2020, G Herbo was able to obtain stolen credit card information from so-called “dark web” sites. The scheme also involved forged identification cards, licenses, and email accounts as seen in the indictment records.
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2. Good luck, Lil Smurf.
5. Mans is stumped.
6. What crimes are people doing out here?
9. Read is…you know the rest.
10. “That’s hate” (JBP)
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Pras Michel and his legal issues are still hanging over his head but on Wednesday (January 10), he entered a new hearing with a new legal team. The Fugees rapper is now represented by a new legal team featuring Doug Jones, a former senator who represented Alabama.
As reported by Vulture, Pras Michel, 51, was convicted on 10 counts of connected to a conspiracy to influence the Chinese government in Washington, D.C. nearly nine months ago. He has since fired his former attorney, David Kenner, who Pras has accused of using AI to write the rapper’s closing statement in his earlier trial.
According to the outlet, the hearing for today isn’t typical and suggests that there could be a retrial or acquittal of the previous convictions, this is due to the prosecution’s alleged mishandling of the case and Kenner’s defense tactics.
Before working with Doug Jones, Pras hired new lawyers to handle the Kenner issue and toured for much of the latter part of 2023 with his Fugees bandmates as part of Lauryn Hill’s 25th-anniversary tour in connection to her debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Jones made his mark as a civil rights attorney and was the federal prosecutor who helped convict two members of the Ku Klux Klan for the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church that killed four Black girls in 2020 and 2021.
The hearing this week will focus on Kenner, who once represented Snoop Dogg in 1996 and aided the popular rapper and pitchman in dodging murder charges. Michel’s side argues that Kenner, 82, was not up to par to represent Michel, especially in a case of that magnitude.
“Upon reviewing the record of Mr. Michel’s previous trial, questions have emerged about the consistency and fairness of the legal process,” shared Michel’s publicist, Erica Dumas, in a statement.
Kenner is expected to take the stand and explain his side while facing accusations of using AI to write Michel’s closing argument statment.
Pras Michel is still awaiting sentencing on the previous conviction but plans to hit the road again with the Fugees this March, according to sources close to Vulture.
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Tiffany Haddish and her legal ordeals have a new development after she entered a not guilty plea in her Los Angeles DUI case. The actor and comedian was arrested in Beverley Hills in November asleep at the wheel.
TMZ, which broke the initial report, shared new details of the DUI case faced by Tiffany Haddish. On Wednesday (December 20), Haddish, 44, entered the plea during her arraignment. Haddish entered the same plea during a DUI case in Georgia.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office brought charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a .08% BAC.
The outlet adds that the Georgia DUI case was set to take place this month but has been postponed. Haddish is asking the courts to deny her blood test results as evidence and said that police conducted an unlawful search of her vehicle.
Haddish appeared in three films this year, Landscape with Invisible Hand, Haunted Mansion, and Back on the Strip.
Tiffany Haddish should be expected to face hearings on both matters in the coming months.
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