Hip Hop Legal Woes

Ja Rule forms a new Posse in Prison

Ja Rule found a new posse behind bars — a couple of cons he calls “Hevey D” and “Koz.” The Queens-raised rap star says disgraced pol Alan Hevesi and corporate greed poster-boy Dennis Kozlowski took him under their wings. From Kozlowski, he got stock tips. From Hevesi, he heard about the perennial impasse in Albany. They watched Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert together. “Outside, you don’t meet guys like this every day. This place is amazing,” Ja Rule told the Daily News during an exclusive interview at Mid-State Correctional Facility in upstate Oneida, N.Y. The rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, has been in prison since June for gun possession and tax evasion. He’s not scheduled to get out until February 2013, but he’s getting ready for his new album, “Pain is Love 2,” to drop later this month — and networking.

“Koz just got out on work release. Not to say I wish he was still here,” he said. “But they’re both great, smart guys.” Kozlowski, 65, is serving eight to 25 years for using the coffers of Tyco Inc. as a piggy bank. He’s infamous for splurging on a $6,000 shower curtain and a $2 million party in Sardinia with an ice sculpture of Michelangelo’s David urinating vodka. Ja Rule, 36, a married father of three, knows something about the luxe life, too. When he was arrested on a gun charge in 2007, the weapon was in a $250,000 Maybach. He’s sold 40 million records and gone platinum with nothing but a juggernaut voice and a talent for lyrics that resonate in neighborhoods like his own Hollis, Queens. Ja Rule dropped out of high school. Hevesi, who has a Ph.D. from Columbia, and Kozlowski, who graduated from Seton Hall University, urged him to pursue higher education. “I was studying for my GED and Koz came in and talked to me and said, if you need any help, let me know,” he said, two weeks after getting the degree. The ex-CEO told him to buy airline stock and study business. He starts taking college-level courses this month. His friendship with Hevesi, the former state controller who began serving one to four years in April for a “pay to play” corruption scheme, centers around politics. “Hevey’s a Democrat like me, so that helps,” Ja Rule said. “He told me how it’s like pulling teeth with the two parties trying to get bills passed.” Hevesi’s lawyer, Bradley Simon, confirmed his client gets along with the hip-hop star — and everyone else on the 23-man prison block. “Alan reads books most of the day, but I know they all watch television together at night,” Simon said. Hevesi, 72, isn’t the first power player Ja Rule has met in prison: At Hudson Correctional Facility he played cards and basketball with Hank Morris, the strategist who pocketed $18 million in the pension scandal that doomed Hevesi. “Hank was my Spades partner, and we were undefeated in basketball,” Ja Rule said. “Hank had a jumpshot, man.” Ja Rule, famous for feuds with other rappers, mused about the unlikely friendships he’s forged. “It’s funny,” he said. “We’re from totally different walks of life. But when you’re here, you’re here.”

nydailynews.com

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Cory Gunz Caught with a Gun in NYC “3 and 1/2 year mandatory prison sentence”

Cory Gunz was arrested yesterday January 28, after police found him in possession of a loaded handgun. Police caught the rapper with a loaded, unregistered Taurus .9mm handgun. Even though its his first offense, Cory Gunz faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 3 and 1/2 years in prison. Cory Gunz, born Peter Pankey Jr., is currently in custody in the Bronx. In New York, it’s mandatory jail time,” the days of paying off judges to walk are long gone in NY. Last word was Cory Gunz is currently still being held in central booking.

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Wiz Khalifa Gets Sued for stealing the Black and Yellow song

Dennis Rodman look alike Wiz Khalifa’s is getting sued . Wiz has been served with a lawsuit claiming that he stole the concept behind his hit single from another Pennsylvania artist. Songwriter Max Gregory Warren of Sharon, PA filed a suit against the Pittsburgh rapper for allegedly stealing the concept for “Black and Yellow” from his copyrighted ’07 track “Pink N Yellow.” Warren contends that Khalifa and company “engaged in a scheme to defraud the plaintiff out of the fruits of his copyright of the Subject song.”

The lawsuit also names “Black and Yellow” producers Stargate, Wiz’s label Rostrum Records, Wiz’s publishing company PGH Sound, EMI Music Publishing, Warner Music Group and Atlantic Recording Corporation. The plaintiff is seeking $2,375,000 in damages for a litany of charges, including deceit, copyright infringement, civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment.

Sources close to Wiz Khalifa claim that he did not steal the concept for “Black and Yellow” from songwriter Max Gregory Warren. A source said, “Wiz has never heard of this guy … it’s just a plot that happens all the the time to rappers to get money. This is just some no-name rapper who wants to get paid.”

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B.G. pleads guilty to gun charge and is looking at 40 Years

BG is facing up to 40 years in prison, after pleading guilty to gun and witness tampering charges yesterday. BG, born Christopher Dorsey, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness tampering charges, although prosecutors refused to offer the rapper any type of plea deal. The rapper acknowledged that he was the owner of several guns that were confiscated from a stolen vehicle, during a traffic stop in November of 2009. During the incident, police recovered found three loaded handguns and two extended magazine clips. In addition to BG, 27-year-old Jerod Fedison and 17-year-old Demounde Pollard were charged in the case.

Police claim that BG and Fedison, who are both convicted felons, pressured Pollard into taking the gun charges, due to his clean criminal record. In May, BG was arrested for his role in persuading Pollard to claim ownership of the guns, hence the witness tampering charge. Fedison recently pleaded guilty to gun and witness tampering charges and was sentenced to a 20-year term. Pollard reportedly cooperated with authorities and received an 30 month sentence. BG is facing certain jail time and could receive up to 40 years in prison, when he is sentenced on March 14. Then again T.I. got caught with 5 times more guns and even automatic machine guns and only got 1 year in jail. Hmmmmmm it still makes me wonder how is that even possible. Lets hope B.G. doesn’t  have to do a long stretch, he is one of the only artists that was ever signed to Cashmoney that isn’t gay or lame or both.

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Lil Boosie sentenced to 8 years for the Drug Charge

Lil Boosie arrived at district court Tuesday morning for a pre-trial motion and ended up pleading guilty to drug charges. Lil Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch, pled guilty to three counts of conspiring to bring drugs into a penal institution. Judge Mike Erwin sentenced him to eight years in prison. Investigators said he tried to smuggle drugs into Dixon Correctional Center once and into Angola State Penitentiary twice.

After the judge announced the sentencing, Lil Boosie requested drug rehab. Erwin said he would recommend it but could not order it. There were about 12 deputies with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office surrounding Lil Boosie while he was in court. Lil Boosie is also charged with first-degree murder in the death of Terry Boyd. Prior to the plea, Erwin refused to remove District Attorney Hillar Moore from that case. Lil Boosie’s lawyers subpoenaed Michael Louding, also known as Marlo Mike, to testify on Lil Boosie’s behalf after repeatedly trying to get Louding on the stand. Louding’s attorney, Margaret Lagatutta, said she will fight the subpoena. Louding is accused of six separate murders. Prosecutors said Louding told them he was hired as a hitman by Lil Boosie. It is unclear if the death penalty is on the table.

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