conviction

Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized After Overturning Of Rape Conviction: “He’s Somewhat Of A Train Wreck Health Wise”

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Harvey Weinstein has reportedly been hospitalized after being examined by doctors upon his arrival at Rikers Island in New York City on Friday. His transport comes after the overturning of his 2020 rape conviction in an appeals court on Thursday. The film industry mogul’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, confirmed that his client is undergoing testing at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

“They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He’s got a lot of problems, he’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck health wise,” Aidala said, as noted by the Associated Press. He also claimed that Weinstein is still as strong as ever mentally. Aidala further explained that it can take state corrections and prisons officials up to two weeks to transport a prisoner. “He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break,” he said. “He’s a 72-year-old sickly man.”

Read More: Harvey Weinstein Conviction Overturned: What We Know

Harvey Weinstein’s Lawyer Speaks With The Press

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, speaks to the press on April 25, 2024, in New York City. New York’s highest court on April 25 overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction on sex crime charges, a shock reversal in one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement. In their 4-3 decision, Court of Appeal judges cited errors in the trial, including admitting the testimony of women who were not part of the charges against him. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

A judge previously sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison after the initial trial. Following the court’s decision on Thursday, however, he will now get a chance at a new trial. He and his legal team argued that the original trial permitted jurors to hear too much evidence not directly related to the specific charges for which he was on trial. Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, told Reuters: “We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.”

Despite the news, Weinstein is still serving a 16-year prison sentence stemming from a conviction for rape in California in 2022. He has maintained his innocence over the years. Be on the lookout for further updates on Harvey Weinstein on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Harvey Weinstein’s New York Rape Conviction Overturned With New Trial Ordered By Court

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R Kelly’s Child Pornography Conviction & Sentence Upheld In Chicago Court

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In February of last year, R Kelly was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for alleged sex crimes involving minors. 19 of the years were to be served concurrent with the sentence he was already serving. The year prior, he was handed 30 years for a federal racketeering conviction in New York. He’s since tried to appeal his conviction and 20-year sentence in Chicago, appearing in court today to learn his fate.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the appeal, upholding both his child pornography conviction and sentence. The news comes after the performer’s defense argued that the statute of limitations had passed in an attempt to get the conviction dropped. Clearly, the court wasn’t buying it, highlighting the “horrible, horrific” nature of his alleged crimes.

Read More: Boosie Badazz Defends R. Kelly While Putting Aoki Lee Simmons’ Former Fling On Blast

R Kelly To Remain Behind Bars

Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez – Pool via Getty Images)

The court also referred to his 30-year sentence for alleged racketeering out of New York as the “elephant in the room,” claiming that the alleged child pornography sentence was determined with it in mind. Kelly’s currently in the process of appealing his New York conviction. If he wins the appeal, this likely means that he’ll still serve the remaining 18 years of his sentence out of Chicago.

“Our fight is not over,” R Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean told TMZ following the decision. “We will see review from the USSC (SCOTUS) on the statute of limitations questions at a minimum. And he has habeas remedies at his disposal. And if we win in NY. He will be entitled to resentencing in Illinois. So this story is far from over.” What do you think of R Kelly’s conviction being upheld? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: R. Kelly Slams Diddy Sex Trafficking Investigation From Prison: “I Know What They Did”

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Jussie Smollett To Appeal Staged Hate Crime Conviction In Illinois Supreme Court

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Back in 2021, California-born actor Jussie Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct. He was charged for accusing two men of attacking him in Chicago, which was later found to be a hoax. Now, Smollett will have an opportunity to plead his case before the Illinois Supreme Court in an attempt to get his conviction overturned.

Smollett has previously argued that he shouldn’t face further prosecution after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped his case. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars. He served only six days in jail before being released. He was additionally ordered to pay the city $120K in restitution, a $25K fine, and serve 30 months of probation. The scandal also cost him his role in Empire.

Read More: Scottie Beam Blasts Joe Budden Over Diddy Silence & Past Jussie Smollett Takes

Jussie Smollett Maintains His Innocence

Jussie Smollett To Appeal Staged Hate Crime Conviction Before Illinois Supreme Court
Jussie Smollett attends Atlanta Black Pride Weekend Pure Heat Community Festival at Piedmont Park on September 4, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Smollett has maintained his innocence since allegedly staging the hate crime alongside two former Empire extras, Ola and Bola Osundairo. He’s been accused of orchestrating the 2019 hoax in an effort to bolster his career in entertainment. In December of 2023, a panel of three judges voted 2-1 to uphold Smollett’s conviction in an Illinois appeals court. This meant that Smollett would have to serve the remainder of his 150-day sentence or bring his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Jussie Smollett’s name was most recently thrust back into headlines when Scottie Beam slammed Joe Budden for his controversial takes on the actor. She accused him of giving her a hard time for refusing to call him a “fa**ot” before having “all the info.” What do you think of Jussie Smollett maintaining his innocence? What about the actor being allowed to plead his case before the Illinois Supreme Court? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023: What Is The Actor Worth?

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Jonathan Majors Tearfully Reflects On Assault Conviction In ABC Interview Trailer

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Last month, Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assaulting his ex, Grace Jabbari. The California native’s career has taken a major hit since the verdict was announced. In December, Marvel confirmed their decision to cut ties with him. He’s currently awaiting sentencing, which is set to take place on February 6. Majors could be looking at up to a year behind bars.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Emmy-nominated actor will be sitting down with ABC‘s Linsey Davis on Good Morning America for his first post-trial interview. In a new trailer, Majors grows emotional as he reflects on being convicted of reckless assault. “It’s been hard,” he says, wiping tears from his eyes. “Do you think you’ll ever work in Hollywood again? Davis asks.

Read More: Katt Williams Invokes Jonathan Majors To Explain Why He’s “Scared Of White Women”

Jonathan Majors Gets Emotional In New Interview Trailer

The trailer cut off there, and viewers will have to wait for the full interview to drop on Monday to hear his response. According to his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, Majors “looks forward to fully clearing his name.” In a statement to NBC News, she explained that jurors weren’t convinced that he intentionally hurt Jabbari during their NYC spat. In security footage from the incident, Majors is seen pushing Jabbari into an SUV during an argument.

“It is clear that the jury did not believe Grace Jabbari’s story of what happened in the SUV because they found that Mr. Majors did not intentionally cause any injuries to her. We are grateful for that,” Chaudhry said. “We are disappointed, however, that despite not believing Ms. Jabbari, the jury nevertheless found that Mr. Majors was somehow reckless while she was attacking him.” What do you think of Jonathan Majors getting emotional while reflecting on being convicted of assault? Are you looking forward to watching his full Good Morning America interview? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Jonathan Majors Will Do First Post-Trial Interview With ABC

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C-Murder Appeals Murder Conviction Again

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Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance decided to uphold C-Murder’s murder conviction in federal court, after two key witnesses recanted their testimonies. They had previously implicated the rapper, born Corey Miller, in the 2002 murder of 16-year-old Steve Thomas. He’s currently serving a life sentence for allegedly carrying out the fatal shooting, but he’s already filed an appeal.

“NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Petitioner, Corey Miller, appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from the District Court’s decision rendered on November 14, 2023, dismissing Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. R. Doc. 14,” the appeal reads. “Additionally, Petitioner prays that this Court grant him a Certificate of Appealability.”

Read More: C-Murder’s Murder Conviction Upheld In Federal Court

C-Murder Continues To Fight His Conviction

C-Murder with girlfriend and Kernel (Photo by Skip Bolen/WireImage)

In Judge Vance’s recent ruling, she claimed that C-Murder failed to “put forth clear and convincing evidence of error in the state courts’ findings of fact.” This is far from the first time his appeal has been denied, however. He’s been working to get his conviction thrown out, or to at least be granted another hearing, for the past 14 years. He was first convicted of the alleged murder in 2009. Kim Kardashian famously brought attention to his case earlier this year after working on it herself for years.

“Louisiana recently enacted a new law that provides innocent people with the ability to raise a post-conviction claim of factual innocence,” she explained in August. “Mr. Miller has raised such a claim and, like all of his prior post-conviction filings, has been denied relief without even so much as an evidentiary hearing. In light of the fact that the only witnesses have completely recanted their testimony, there is absolutely no remaining evidence against Mr. Miller. Corey Miller deserves a day in court to test the veracity of the recanted statements and to prove that he did not shoot Steve Thomas.” Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: C Murder Reveals Hunger Strike, Asks Activists For Help With Appeal

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Suspects In ASAP Press Murder Sentenced To Decades In Prison

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Seven years after Chester Taylor and Darius Hastings shot ASAP Press in the back of the head, the New York State Supreme Court found them both guilty of his death. For those unaware, the A$AP Mob member survived the shooting initially, but succumbed to a fatal seizure in 2018 which stemmed from the attack’s lingering head injury. Moreover, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. sentenced the two men to 20 years to life in state prison on two counts second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In addition, the crimes at hand include second-degree murder and first-degree assault, according to a press release.

Furthermore, their connection stems from ASAP Press reaching out to Taylor through a mutual friend in July of 2016. Press needed a luxury car for a music video shoot, and Taylor set the rent price at $1,000 for two cars, which Press mostly paid off upfront weeks later. However, Taylor did not provide the vehicles as agreed, and the Harlem native’s attempts to get his money back were unsuccessful. This kept going on for quite some time, at least for a full month before things escalated.

Read More: A$AP Rocky Sued By Former A$AP Mob Member Over Shooting: Report

ASAP Mob Mourns Its Fallen Member Press

In late August of 2016, Taylor threatened ASAP Press over his consistent attempts and warned him to call it quits over the phone. It’s also possible that Press made threats in the other direction, but regardless, after this series of text message interactions, Taylor contacted his friend, Hastings. They met up with the collective member in Harlem and shot him, but he survived. Years later, while attending a music festival in Houston, Press passed away, and a medical examiner found that the seizure directly related to the shooting’s head injury.

“Chester Taylor and Darius Hastings shot and killed a young Harlemite with great ambitions, talent and a bright future,” the Manhattan D.A. remarked. “Although Pressie Taylor Jr. miraculously survived the shooting in its initial aftermath, his life was forever changed. He made a valiant attempt at resuming his life and music career, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the effects of his serious injuries, depriving his family and community of a promising star. Thanks to the jury’s careful review of the evidence, both defendants were found to be responsible for his murder. I hope that the sentences imposed today bring the victim’s family some form of peace.” For more news and the latest updates on the ASAP Mob, come back to HNHH.

Read More: A$AP Bari Accuses A$AP Mob Member Of Snitching On A$AP Rocky

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Jussie Smollett Is Directing A New Movie Starring Vivica A. Fox

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According to reports, Jussie Smollett is currently directing a new movie starring Vivica A. Fox. Smollett was spotted on set of the film, titled The Lost Holiday, yesterday. Photos from the set shared by TMZ show the two working alongside each other in Orange County. Smollett and Fox also previously worked together on the series Empire.

Smollett is also in the process of appealing his conviction for faking a hate crime in 2019. In March of this year, his attorneys filed an appellant brief claiming that the court “committed reversible error” and was “excessive” in its sentencing. They later shared a statement about the appeal. “If Mr. Smollett’s convictions are allowed to stand, this case will set a dangerous precedent,” it reads, “by giving prosecutors a second bite at the apple any time there is dissatisfaction with another prosecutor’s exercise of discretion.” Furthermore, the actor will have to serve five months if the appeal fails. Smollett’s court hearing is scheduled to take place in December.

Read More: Vivica A. Fox & 50 Cent: Actress Expresses Interest In Reconciling Romantically With Rapper

Vivica A. Fox Supports Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett Is Directing A New Movie Starring Vivica A. Fox
Vivica A. Fox attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of “CREED III” at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 27, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)

Fox has continued to stick by Smollett amid the controversy surrounding the 2019 hoax. She previously told TMZ that she plans to “do something with him in the future.” Now, it appears that day has come.

Fox also made headlines earlier this month for claiming that she’s not opposed to rekindling her romance with 50 Cent. She appeared on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show where the two discussed the possibility. “Well, [Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez] did it again. Why not?” Fox asked the host. The two then continued to joke, and Fox explained that her ex is unfortunately already taken. “He has a beautiful girlfriend by the name of Cuban Link,” she said. “Recently, he gave her something, but I don’t know if it was an engagement ring. But it was a beautiful ring.”

Read More: 50 Cent Reacts To Vivica A. Fox’s “First Lady Of BMF” Movie: “What The F*ck Is This Man!”

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Tory Lanez Calls For A “Fair Trial” During New Phone Call From Prison

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Tory Lanez shared a new phone call from prison on Instagram, Tuesday. During the clip, he criticizes the DNA evidence that the prosecution used to put him behind bars. He says that thorough testing of the weapon used to shoot Megan Thee Stallion should have exonerated him from the crime. The post comes after Lanez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, teased that his client will be releasing information about the DNA testing used in the trial, earlier this week.

“@gasconforlada PLEASE put an end to this INJUSTICE…,” Lanez captioned the phone call video. “Many BLACK AND HISPANIC MINORITIES are falling victim to these same OUTRAGEOUS and DISGUSTING TRICKS and TACTICS. Someone NEEDS to stand up for US! Everyone PLEASE PRAY that the Honourable Judge David Herriford returns me to FREEDOM and a FAIR trial.”

Megan Thee Stallion Arrives In Court

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 13: Megan Thee Stallion whose legal name is Megan. Pete arrives at court to testify in the trial of Rapper Tory Lanez for allegedly shooting her on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Bobby Shmurda commented on Lanez’s post, revealing that he dealt with similar issues with his own trial. “Alex Spyro was my lawyer send me upstate for 7 years for my first gun charge first felony I was convicted of,” he wrote. “I was sentenced to the max after having to pay him over $100,000.” Shmurda was convicted on charges of conspiracy to murder, and weapons possession, as well as reckless endangerment, and sentenced to seven years in prison. He regained his freedom following six years in prison in February 2021.

Jose Baez is currently representing Tory Lanez. He wrote in an Instagram Story post, earlier this week: “Today is national DNA day and we are happy to announce that Tory Lanez will be releasing information about the DNA in his case that gave false and misleading information to his jury #freetorylanez.” A jury found Lanez guilty of three charges regarding the shooting back in December 2022. The charges against him include assault with a semi-automatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He is currently in prison and awaiting sentencing while facing up to 22 years in prison.

Tory Lanez’s Phone Call

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R. Kelly Files For Appeal In Federal Sex Crimes Case In NY

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R. Kelly has filed for an appeal in his federal sex crimes case based in New York. According to TMZ, the disgraced singer cites a “laundry list of reasons” he believes the conviction should be overturned. Kelly was previously found guilty in 2021 on nine total federal counts. They included RICO charges in addition to charges pertaining to sex crimes and human trafficking.

As for Kelly’s issues with the conviction, he argues the government did not meet its burden of proof in court. In the filing, his legal team brings up issues with several pieces of evidence prosecutors were allowed to submit during the trial. The lawyers also take issue with at least 4 of the jurors selected. They say in the time since, they’ve admitted prejudging his guilt before handing down their official verdict.

R. Kelly In Court

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly turns to leave after appearing at a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez – Pool via Getty Images)

As for Kelly’s original conviction, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the charges. He’s also serving an additional 20 years for a similar case in Chicago. At the time of his New York sentencing, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace stated: “R. Kelly used his fame, fortune and enablers to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification, while many turned a blind eye. Through his actions, Kelly exhibited a callous disregard for the devastation his crimes had on his victims and has shown no remorse for his conduct.”

He continued: “With today’s sentence he has finally and appropriately been held accountable for his decades of abuse, exploitation and degradation of teenagers and other vulnerable young people. We hope that today’s sentence brings some measure of comfort and closure to the victims, including those who bravely testified at trial, and serves as long-overdue recognition that their voices deserve to be heard and their lives matter.”

As for Kelly’s Chicago conviction, he has yet to file for appeal in that matter. Following the sentencing, his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, told TMZ at the time: “We feel good. Sentence was mostly concurrent. One additional year added. Almost no restitution. Good outcome. But we are still going to fight the NY case!”

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