Crime and Punishment
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Pras Michel sought a retrial in connection to his conspiracy case after noting that his former legal team used AI to offer a closing statement in the matter ahead of his 2023 conviction. A federal judge has since ruled that Pras Michel will not receive a retrial, despite findings that suggested errors were made.
As reported by The Haitian Times, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly decided on August 30 that Pras Michel’s request for a retrial would not move forward. In 2023, Michel was convicted on several charges and sought to have a new trial due to his former attorney, David Kenner, employing AI to write a closing statement but later discovering the mistakes the program made. One of those mistakes includes an incorrect attribution of Michel’s lyrics given to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In the motion filed by Michel’s attorneys, the rapper’s legal team uncovered 14 errors that were made during Michel’s time and court thus the filing of the motion for retrial. The legal team additionally argued that the jury overseeing the matter was influenced by statements made by two federal judges that named Michel as a co-conspirator in the crimes he was charged with.
The judge in the case did note the errors raised by Michel’s team and three of them were considered according to accounts. However, the judge decided that the issues raised were not enough to overturn the jury’s initial ruling.
Pras Michel faces a potential sentence that could land him 20 years in prison. He is currently free on bond. A date for his sentencing has not been announced.
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Sean Combs, also known under his stage name Diddy, was charged on Tuesday (September 17) after he was arrested at a New York hotel on Monday. Diddy faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting for prostitution according to recently revealed court documents.
The news of the indictment has spread like wildfire through social media channels as the details of the case continue to unravel. As reported by TMZ, the indictment notes that between 2008 and the present day, Sean Combs and those connected to his business ventures are accused of forced labor, sex trafficking, transporting for prostitution, kidnapping, arson, and other related charges.
At the center of the unsealed indictment were details that date back to 2008 to the present day alleging that Combs lorded over his enterprise and used his money, power, and influence to unleash abuse towards women and men, including those who performed sex work. Also revealed were details of the so-called “Freak Off” parties where Combs used drugs to control his victims and have them do his bidding. During these parties, Combs allegedly masturbated and often recorded the events, while also transporting the sex workers across state lines to participate.
The Freak Offs were so intense according to the documents, Combs and the victims would need to rehydrate intravenously to recover from the high levels of drugs in their systems. The documents also revealed that Combs employed his staff to keep these parties stocked with lubricants, bedding, lighting, baby oil, and more, then had the staff clean up the evidence.
Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles were famously raided earlier this year with officials discovering narcotics, a thousand bottles of lubricant and baby oil, and high-powered weaponry including three AR-15s that had their serial numbers forcibly removed.
The legal team for Diddy says that the Bad Boy Records mogul is showing a brave face and is willingly cooperating with the authorities. On Tuesday, attorney Marc Agnifilo shared some brief statements.
“His spirits are good. He’s confident,” Agnifilo said to a media throng gathering outside the Manhattan courthouse. He added that Combs intends to “fight like hell” against the allegations and intends to plead not guilty.
Source: John Lamparski / Getty
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams is currently holding a press conference discussing the matter in full. We were unable to connect the stream but it can be found online.
On X, reactions to Diddy’s indictment being announced are still cropping up. We’ve got them listed below.
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Lil Baby was arrested on Monday (August 26) and booked on gun possession charges after being caught with a handgun inside a Las Vegas nightclub. According to reports, Lil Baby was arrested and held on a $5,000 bond but was released from custody after posting the amount.
TMZ reports that Lil Baby, real name Dominique Jones, was at the Encore resort in Las Vegas and was found with a weapon on his person that he was not permitted to carry according to a breaking news report from TMZ. The outlet says that the Atlanta rapper was handed the firearm by another individual and the act was witnessed by an unknown individual but sparked police to investigate the matter.
In a statement, the attorney for Lil Baby wrote, “To be clear, Dominique Jones has a valid Georgia Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit. On his behalf, we are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding his arrest in Las Vegas.”
A Georgia CCW permit would not be valid in the state of Nevada.
The My Turn star has not made any public statement regarding the arrest, nor have any details emerged regarding why he was given the firearm or who was responsible for handing it over to him.
Lil Baby is due in Las Vegas on October 1 for a hearing related to the charges.
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Quando Rondo was in court earlier this week in connection to his drug case in Georgia, changing his previous not-guilty plea to guilty inside a federal court. With the rapper pleading guilty to a lesser charge, Quando Rondo still faces up to five years behind bars in connection to the matter.
As reported by WSAV, Quando Rondo, 25, appeared in court this past Tuesday (August 13) to change his not-guilty plea to guilty for a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana charge.
After his court appearance, the rapper, real name Tyquian Bowman, told WSAV that he’s on a new path and hopes that it reflects in his actions going forward.
“I just want everybody to know I’m a changed person, I’m changing every day, and God has the last say so, Rondo said.
Adding to his statement to the press, Rondo apologized to his hometown in a bid to further display his changed ways.
“I really want to give an apology to the city of Savannah, and I want to give an apology to my family, friends, loved ones, most of all to my daughters,” Rondo added.
The rapper is still releasing music and has a new project, Here For A Reason, to release on Friday (August 16) according to WSAV’s report.
“I’m forever gonna rap! Nothing can affect music,” Rondo shared with WSAV.
Quando Rondo is due back in court on December 12 for his sentencing and will remain free on bond until then.
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A South Carolina man who was recognized as the king of an African village was stabbed on Monday (July 29) later succumbing to the wounds. Police have arrested the suspect but details are still largely being kept under wraps as the village prepares to properly bury the leader.
Oba Adegbolu Abiogemo Adejuyigbe Egunjobi Oyewole Adefunmi II was the king of Oyotunji African Village, located near Sheldon, Beaufort County in South Carolina. Oyotunji was founded in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I.
According to a report from local outlet WJCL, reports of the stabbing Monday came in around 2:45 local time according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s communications team. Adefunmi was taken to a local hospital and died from the stab wounds.
A suspect, Akiba Kasale Meredith, 53, has been identified by the authorities and it now facing murder charges. According to the accounts delivered by BCSO officials, Meredith fled the area on foot but was later apprehended after walking back to the scene of the crime. A motive has not been established.
Source: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office / BCSO
Officials at the Oyotunji African Village site have decided to speak with the press after completing proper burial services for Adefunmi.
Oba Adegbolu Abiogemo Adejuyigbe Egunjobi Oyewole Adefunmi II was 47.
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Photo: Allen Funerals
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Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty
Sean “Diddy” Combs is being investigated by the Feds. Reportedly, the disgraced Hip-Hop mogul is the subject of a federal criminal investigation, surely tied to the raids on his homes back in March 2024.
NBC News reports that Diddy’s legal team was notified last week that their client is being investigated by the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Although their sources indicated that a federal grand jury has been empaneled, there is no indication as to what the potential charges may be and when they will land, yet. The source also said that Combs had yet to receive a formal target letter from the SDNY.
This latest development comes a few months after Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided simultaneously as part of an investigation into alleged sex trafficking and illegal firearms, amongst other crimes. Recently, Diddy put the same Los Angeles home that was raided on the market. TMZ reports he’s seeking $70M for the Holmby Hills home after paying $40M for it back in 2014.
Combs’ fall from grace can be pinpointed to when in November 2023 his ex-girlfriend and former Bad Boy artist Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse. The suit was settled a day later, but the dam was broken, with more alleged victims coming forward with lawsuits of their own in the weeks and months since. Diddy would vehemently deny any wrongdoing, but in May 2024, CNN obtained a video that showed him brutally beating Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel’s hallway. The assault was just as what Cassie had described in her lawsuit.
Diddy then took to Instagram to deliver a widely criticized apology video. In the month since Cassie’s initial lawsuit, entities have been cutting ties with Diddy, including Revolt (where he once served as Chairman of the company he founded), Hulu (which dropped a planned reality show) and Howard University (which rescinded his honorary degree).
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requested last week that a gag order against Donald Trump remain in place, alluding to the fact several threats have been made against those working on the case. The gag order, which has been in place since April, prevents Trump from issuing threats and attacking witnesses, jurors, court employees, and the relatives of New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
As seen in Mediaite, Alvin Bragg requested the extension on Friday, June 21, pointing to an alarming number of threats — 56 to be exact according to a New York Times report — and this comes as Trump is attempting to have the gag order lifted as he continues his presidential campaign.
Bragg and other prosecutors added that while Justice Merchan would not need to enforce the order for witnesses, the other barriers should remain until Trump’s sentencing on July 11. Trump was convicted by a New York jury back in May on 34 felony counts in the hush money trial.
The muzzling of Trump is typically a difficult task as the former president is known for his unfiltered views and bold tone. Trump has had choice words for Bragg, Justice Merchan, and the justice system, citing that his current legal ordeal is politically motivated as he attempts a return to the White House.
Among those threats mentioned above, an employee of Bragg’s office was doxxed with their home address getting leaked online, and two other individuals connected to the case faced bomb threats. Beyond those instances, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has seen a deluge of emails and phone calls levying all manner of threats.
Trump is stating that the gag order violates his right to free speech and is hoping to have the order lifted as he continues to appeal to his base ahead of the November election. It hasn’t been reported if Justice Merchan will honor the extension request from DA Alvin Bragg or from Donald Trump to lift the order.
We’ve got some reactions from X below.
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Source: Miami Beach Police Department / MBPD
Travis Scott has just found himself in trouble with the law as the “Highest In The Room” rapper was booked for disorderly intoxication while partying up in Miami.
According to TMZ, Scott was aboard a yacht when he allegedly got into an altercation with other occupants who ultimately had enough of his antics and called the police. When the cops got there they escorted La Flame off the boat and into a waiting vehicle which drove him away. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the situation and Scott reportedly took things up a notch, which landed him behind bars.
Per TMZ:
Cops say Travis told them if he got into the car he was “gonna catch a fade” — and then they say he was driven away … only to return 5 minutes later, with the cops posted up and seeing him attempt to head back to the boat. They say they intercepted him … and claim TS became erratic and belligerent, at which point they arrested him. BTW, they say Travis reeked of booze during all this … hence the disorderly intoxication charge he was booked on.
Sources close to Travis tell us he was hit with a minor charge, which he already posted bond for — in other words, he’s been released from jail at this point. In terms of the actual incident, we’re told he was just partying and that things got a little out of hand between Travis and the staff when he refused to leave … but the situation never got violent.
Travis Scott got arrested for being drunk in public out in Florida — and his mug shot is a sobering one.
Scott was eventually booked into he county jail on early Thursday morning (June 20), which also got him the new mugshot.
You have to wonder what led to Scott getting into it with other passengers on a yacht. Also that’s the most millionaire kind of way to get arrested. Just sayin.’
What do y’all think of Travis Scott getting booked for disorderly intoxication in Miami? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Young Thug and his ongoing RICO trial in Georgia has undergone several twists and turns and the latest instance stands out as one of the most explosive. Earlier this week, attorney Brian Steel, who represents Young Thug in the YSL RICO trial, was held in contempt of court and ordered held for 10 weekends behind bars.
Local outlet 11 Alive reports that Judge Ural Glanville told Brian Steel that Steel’s failure to share the name of his source regarding a private meeting between Glanville, the State, and key witness Kenneth Copeland is why he charged Steel with the action.
The outlet adds that Judge Glanville gave Steel several warnings about being in contempt which Steel bypassed. Instead, the attorney stated that the court was in violation because his client didn’t have any representation at the private meeting.
“I’m going to give you five minutes. If you don’t tell me who it is, I’m going to put you in contempt,” Glanville said. Steel responded with, “I don’t need five minutes.”
After a recess, the judge once more demanded details and Steel refused.
“Mr. Steel, I’m going to ask you again. I need you to tell me how you got this information. This is so sacrosanct to have a conversation in my chambers parroted to you,” Glanville said.
Steel then motioned for a mistrial which the judge denied, and he was taken into custody right after. From there the judge read the terms of Steel’s jail time.
“Those 20 days consisting of every weekend for the next 10 weekends,” Glanville added. “And you’ll be reporting to 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30318. At 7 p.m. on Fridays, you’ll be released on 7 p.m. on Sundays. And it’s to commence this Friday, June the 14th at 7 p.m. and not to end until Sunday, August the 18th, 2024, at 7 p.m.”
A video of the exchange captured by 11 Alive is posted below.
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Photo: CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA / Getty
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Corey Harris, a Michigan man due in court virtually for a hearing, certainly didn’t do himself any favors earlier this month before the meeting with the judge. Mr. Harris, who has a suspended license, called into the hearing while driving which sparked the judge to react with disbelief.
Corey Harris, 44, was slated to speak to Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson and called into the hearing via Zoom while driving a vehicle. As reported by Detroit outlet WXYZ, Harris was charged with driving with a suspended license in October 2023. Assistant Public Defender Natalie Pate introduced the case to the judge, and the Zoom call began with Harris simply driving along without any concern for the optics.
Harris caused Judge Simpson to become flabbergasted after he asked the judge for a moment to park his vehicle after he explained he was heading to his doctor’s office. After a moment, Judge Simpson couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.
“No, I’m looking at his record. He doesn’t have a license. He’s suspended and he’s just driving,” Simpson says, trying to maintain his composure. Simpson added, “I don’t even know why he would do that.”
Instead of proceeding with the hearing, Judge Simpson revoked Harris’ bond and ordered Harris to turn himself in by 6 PM that day. As the Detroit News added in its reporting, Harris was set to appear before the court in connection to his suspended license case.
Corey Harris is due back in court on June 5, hopefully taking Uber or getting a lift from a friend.
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