crime

YSL RICO Trial: Jury Selection Becoming Increasingly Difficult

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The YSL case continues as new developments emerge regularly, even before any of the defendants appeared in court. Over the past two months, there have been shocking updates and incidents in court. At one point, Young Thug nearly faced new charges after a co-defendant handed him a Percocet pill inside the courtroom. The individual was immediately reprimanded and found with other substances on his person. Then, there was a recent update surrounding two defense attorneys who revealed they were pregnant.

However, the most strenuous process as part of this case is jury selection. Since the beginning of the process, there have been many delays and issues surrounding those who might serve on the jury. A judge ordered one potential juror to write an essay on the importance of jury selection after skipping town on a vacation. Then, another faced a contempt charge for allegedly contacting a reporter. 

Jury Selection In YSL Case Drawn Out 

At this point, it seems as though it’s going to take a long time before the actual trial starts. Jury selection in the YSL RICO trial has undoubtedly been drawn out for over a month as more potential jurors entered the court. Per Fox 5 Atlanta, hundreds of potential jurors have been summoned to the court, though there has been an abundance of hardship deferrals since there’s a chance the case will be nearly a year long. So far, the defense and prosecutors have yet to find a single juror for the case.

It seems as though the jury selection process is on par with predictions that it would last up to four months. Since the case includes a number of co-defendants, as well as high-profile suspects, the trial for Young Thug and YSL will undoubtedly take significantly longer than it would any other case. However, it appears that defense attorneys are hoping for a mistrial. Earlier this week, footage of YSL Woody inside an interrogation room surfaced. In the clip, Woody reveals information about YSL and Young Thug as well as the ongoing feud with YFN Lucci. An attorney for one of the defendants recently filed a motion to dismiss the trial. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates regarding the case. 

Pooh Sheisty May Have To Pay Over $1 Million In Restitution

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It’s been nearly one year since Memphis’ Pooh Sheisty was sentenced to over five years in federal prison. The 1017 signee took a plea deal for three separate crimes, however, his battles are far from over. Prosecutors are now asking that Sheisty and his co-defendants pay restitution due to injuries sustained by their victims. According to VladTV—who obtained legal courts docs on the case—the price for their suffering totals $1.1 million.

Correspondingly, the documents detail the “expected cost that the victims will incur to treat the injuries” they sustained in 2020. The incident, which occurred in October of that year, was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. Pooh Sheisty’s assailants Bobby Brown and Jayden Darosa were charged with the shootings. For this reason, the wounded are asking for over half a million dollars each, totaling $1,149,828.43. In part, a doctor says for either of them to receive treatment from an orthopedic surgeon over the next five years will cost $200-800 per visit. The restitution will also cover past and other future surgeries.

Pooh Sheisty Provides Update From Prison

Pooh Sheisty’s defense team believes the payment requests are ludicrous, seeing they were the ones with drugs. “So it’s essentially Tony Montana is asking the Colombians to pay him for the injuries he received,” says lawyer Bradford Cohen. This news comes just one day after Pooh—real name Longfellow Williams Jr.—uploaded new photos from prison. “[For] my fans, supporters, [loved] ones holding me down everyday, keep keeping it solid[,] I promise it don’t get unnoticed,” he wrote. “[I] still remain untouched, millions still in double digits!… I was up 8 figures[, Jay-Z] can’t even relate.” On the contrary, he shared some choice words with his enemies.

1017 boss recently Gucci Mane spoke out against the “unacceptable” prison conditions Pooh Sheisty may be facing while incarcerated. “We do not pay attention to how inmates in the US are treated!,” La Flare shared. “@poohsheisty has been sent to a prison over 1500 miles from his home, 23 hr lock down and given empty food trays. USP Pollack should be investigated immediately.” Sheisty is currently serving his time in Victorville Penitentiary out in California.

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Young Thug’s Co-Defendant Seeks Mistrial

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The lengthy YSL Rico case has a new twist, with one of Young Thug’s co-defendants demanding a mistrial. Jayden Myrick, who faces charges of murder amongst others, is seeking a mistrial on the account of leaked videos. According to HipHopDX, Myrick’s attorney filed the motion on Tuesday (February 21st), on the violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair and impartial jury. Allegedly, discovery materials circulated online despite a signed order that prohibited the sharing of such content.

Although the cited video was not specified, a 2021 interrogation of Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland has recently been revealed. In the three-and-a-half-hour footage, Lil Woody discusses information about Young Thung with investigators. “While said evidence may not directly implicate my client,” Myrick’s attorney wrote, “it along with all of the publicity and courtroom incidents since the start of this trial that have not been the result of any conduct of my client, Jayden Myrick, make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial, as well as a jury that is honestly and truly fair and impartial.”

Young Thug’s Dramatic Trial Continues

The ongoing YSL Rico trial has yielded a dramatic trial, with several of the 14 defendants accepting plea deals. During the course of the case, additional charges and mishaps have emerged, the outlet reports. In one instance, Young Thug was allegedly handed a Percocet pill by co-defendant Kahlieff Adams. The exchange was caught on camera, resulting in Adams being tased. Additionally, other defendants have been causing trouble behind bars, with one stabbing another inmate, and another spitting on a deputy.

This high-publicity case has sparked other hip hop names to chime in, even inspiring Boosie Badazz to consider a movie. Although the trial commenced in January (despite a motion to delay), it’s expected to last for six to nine months. The defendants are all on trial for their relations to YSL Rico, a “criminal street gang” responsible for numerous violent crimes in Atlanta over the past eight years. Young Thug is accused as the leader of the gang. To keep up with this ongoing trial, be sure to check back on HNHH.

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Donald Trump Pays Own Legal Fees With $10 Million In Donor Money

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Former President Donald Trump is under fire yet again for meddling with political donations. According to The New York Times, the 45th Commander-in-Chief has been paying personal lawyers with funds from his Save America political action committee. The Times acquired this information through Federal Election Committee filings. Factoring in capital from both 2021 and 2022, the numbers reach $16 million collectively. This totals up to 20% of Save America’s expenditures spent outside of other candidates.

Now that Trump has decided to run for the 2024 election, campaign finance experts suggest a cap be put in place. This would deter Donald Trump from using Save America’s donations for his own financial woes while running for office. This type of advice hasn’t stopped the MAGA forerunner before, however. In fact, former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz plans to unveil a majority of Trump’s political crimes in an upcoming book.

Donald Trump’s Woes Continue

Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (L) at the South Carolina State House on January 28, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina. Trump’s visit to South Carolina marks his first visit to the state since announcing his intention to seek the presidency for a second term in 2024. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Pomerantz, also a veteran defense lawyer, submitted his resignation letter in February 2022. Prior to this, the author was gearing up to go forward with a RICO case against Trump. Though his team failed to go through with it, Donald Trump may not get off completely scot-free. Currently, the former reality star has evidence against him via a probe through Alvin Bragg, Manhattan’s latest District Attorney. There’s an investigation into alleged hush money given to Stormy Daniels for her reported affair with Trump some years ago.

This is all far from the end of Donald’s Trump legal battles. Recently, the politician was ordered to pay taxes after evading “local, state and federal taxes over more than a decade.” Though his team plans to appeal, Trump was ordered to pay $1.6 million in the fraud case. This number is viewed as a cakewalk for him, considering. “That’s equivalent to about $25 to Donald Trump. He probably spends more at Mcdonald’s,” political commentator Scottie Hughes states. If that’s not enough, Trump is also facing a lawsuit stemming from the 2021 Capitol riots. This comes after former police officer Brian Sicknick died one day later, suffering two strokes before he passed.

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Pooh Shiesty Posts From Jail, Boasts About Status, Money: “Jay-Z Can’t Even Relate”

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He was an artist climbing the Rap ranks when Pooh Shiesty was indicted in 2021. It stemmed from a shooting in October 2020, but in June 2021, Shiesty was arrested for a separate incident. The rapper faced several charges, but in the end, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of violent and drug-trafficking crimes. Pooh was sentenced to five years behind bars, and he’s remained relatively quiet—that is, until now.

On Tuesday evening (February 21), Shiesty emerged on Instagram with a lengthy post. Unsurprisingly, the message was also quickly shared, and it looked as if the rapper was talking that talk from behind bars. He seemed more concerned with his street cred and Google’s listing of his net worth. “King Shiesty tappin in from the middle of the pennititary aka Hell where they say i cant go , jailing no telling !!” he began. “I still remain Untouched , Millions still in double digits ! tell google fix my networth we can verify that sh*t right now.”

Pooh Shiesty Boasts About His Status

He continued: “Yeah im locked up not f*cked up. i was 21 up 8 figures jayZ cant even relate my money tripple my followers.” Additionally, it seemed that Shiesty was upset with how certain people were speaking about him. “Stop playing with my name before i buy one of you for sale ass n*ggas you n*ggas ANYTHING! I put on for this Choppa Gang sh*t everyday. Twice on Sundays im on the same sh*t from Tokio to Tennesse.”

After a bit more bragging, Shiesty had a message for those who have stood in his corner. “For my fans , supporters , love ones holding me down everyday,” he said. “Keep keeping it solid i promise it dont get unnoticed i see everything and got some special for all word is law.” However, he also had a scathing note for his foes.

Shiesty Has Words For His Enemies

“The rest of you pussies dead ! keep hating , false advertising , back biting , and counting me out, it up and stuck like a tree house,” he further stated. “Im touching down to terrorize i gotta dorito on my shoulder im going 100% flamboyant on you f*cking clowns ! its all bad for you wild ass n*ggas ‘ ALL EYES ON SHIEST ‘ #NeverCheckedIn #SnitchK #No5k1 #Norule35 #Mr.Omerta.” Read the post in its entirety above.

Alabama’s Brandon Miller Implicated In Darius Miles Murder Case

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The University of Alabama’s basketball team is arguably the best in the entire nation. With a 23-4 record and currently ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, the Crimson Tide have rolled all year. However, this has not come without it’s share of controversy. In January, one of their players Darius Miles was charged with capital murder. Miles allegedly contributed to an incident that led to the death of a young woman named Jamea Harris. Reportedly, he provided the gun used to slay her on Univeristy Blvd. near the Alabama campus.

“At this time, it appears that the only motive was a minor altercation that these individuals had with the victim as they were out on the Strip,” Tuscaloosa Police Capt. Jack Kennedy said in a news conference at the time. Supposedly, the man who allegedly shot the gun, Michael Lynn Davis, did so because Jamea Harris rejected him romantically. Although Miles did not fire the weapon, he allegedly provided the gun and was at the scene of the crime. In December, an ankle injury caused Miles to be ruled out for the remainder of the season. Even though he was not active at the time, though, the school expelled him for his involvement with this crime.

Alabama Still In Trouble

Brandon Miller
Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide salutes the crowd after a first half three pointer against the Georgia Bulldogs at Coleman Coliseum on February 18, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

On Tuesday (Feb. 21) at a hearing for the case, Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper revealed another Alabama player involved with the crime. Culpepper testified that star forward Brandon Miller supplied the gun for Miles to give to Davis. Miller is currently the team’s leading scorer with 18.7 points per game as a freshman. Projected to be a high pick in this year’s NBA draft, Brandon Miller is only a freshman. Police said that Miles had texted Miller asking him to bring the weapon to where he was near campus, and Miller obliged. However, Tuscaloosa D.A. Paula Whitley added that “there’s nothing we could charge (Miller) with.”

When questions arose regarding Miller’s alleged involvement with the murder, Alabama’s head coach Nate Oats said Tuesday that he was aware of the situation. “We knew about that,” he said. “Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen… Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.” While this statement appears to show a lack of sympathy from Oats, he also said that the “whole situation is sad” and that Bama was and is “fully cooperating with law enforcement the entire time.”

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Mysonne Sides With T.I. Over Boosie Snitch Debate

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This week, rappers and fans alike are chiming in after Boosie backtracks on his music with T.I. Back in November, Boosie praised his forthcoming project with the Atlanta heavyweight, telling Fat Joe it supersedes Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss. Now, the Louisiana legend has shelved the project after alleged snitching comments from T.I. forced him to pull back. “N.Y. General” Mysonne was made aware of the comments and has since come forward to provide his two cents on the matter.

In an uprooted episode of expediTIously, T.I. spoke on a case he had with his now-deceased cousin, Toot. The pair had gone to trial for guns and theft, with Tip ultimately making the decision to put the charges on Toot after he was killed. Mysonne says if he were in Toot’s position, he’d want the same thing to happen, too. “I want you to use me to make sure that you don’t go to jail,” he exclaims in an Instagram post. He goes on to theorize that maybe the guns were Toot’s in the first place. “I do not adhere to street rules,” he captions the post. To clarify, he concludes with “I deal with Codes of Manhood and Integrity! #BoycottBlackMurder.”

Mysonne Explains Why T.I. Made The Right Decision

According to T.I., him and his cousin were previously stopped by the police in 2000 after making a play on stolen, luxury clothing. “We get in the car and we pull off,” Tip explains after being followed by mall security. “And then, of course, they followed behind us and called the real police. So before we actually get on the expressway, the real police pull us over. I have a gun.”

The two then went to trial for the crime, at which point Toot was tragically murdered. Due to the grave circumstances, T.I.’s lawyer then presented him with an opportunity to frame his cousin instead. According to him, Toot told him sent him a message from the other side and agreed to it. “After he had passed, I had a talk with him,” T.I. continued. “Toot said, ‘I’ll take all the charges you got! If you can walk away free and put it on me, goddamn right! ‘Cause I’ll be damned if they gon’ come and mothafuckin’ extradite me from here!’” Although the footage is from 2000, it was enough for Boosie to pull the plug on their project altogether as a result.

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XXXTENTACION Murder: Drake’s Attorney Wants Defense Sanctioned Over Deposition Request

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Drake still hasn’t escaped the possible deposition surrounding XXXTENTACION’s murder. Drizzy faced numerous requests to be deposed in the case due to his feud with the late Florida rapper. Most recently, a process server attempted to subpoena Drake at his California mansion, only to be met by his security who refused to accept anything on his behalf. His bodyguards allegedly kicked the subpoena down the driveway afterward. “Drake’s staff believes that physically kicking the subpoena is a legally sound way of refusing service,” Dedrick Williams attorney, Mauricio Padilla, said. 

The judge ruled that Drake would have to sit down for some sort of deposition by Feb. 24th. Per Rolling Stone, on Feb. 17th, the judge stated that Drake’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, and the defense, Padilla, would have to “work together to mutually agree to a time that was convenient to Mr. Graham, agree on parameters for topics discussed at deposition and even stated that he would even consider sealing the deposition.” He added that they need to balance “the rights of the defendants to investigate the first degree murder case properly with Aubrey Drake Graham’s privacy issue.”

Drake’s Attorney Clashes With The Defense

Drake’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, appeared in court this week where he formally addressed complaints from the defense surrounding the subpoena. Padilla said he tried to serve Cohen after asking if he would “accept service” on Drake’s behalf. However, Cohen allegedly refused. At this point, Padilla claimed that he “mentioned possibly asking for attorney’s fees, the metaphorical equivalent to kicking the subpoena down the driveway.” 

In response to Padilla, Cohen said that the attempt to expedite the deposition is “quite simply, legally unsound.” He added that they failed to properly serve Drake with the subpoena in accordance with California laws. “Counsel for the Defendant’s only logical motive in moving for an order to show cause a second time would have been to inject celebrity spectacle into an otherwise routine trial and generate headlines in the news,” Cohen told the court. Then, he asked the court to force Padilla to cover Drake’s attorney fees. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates surrounding the case.

Lil Woody Interrogation Leak Leads To Mistrial Request: Report

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An attorney for defendant Jayden Myrick, aka SetTrip, in the YSL RICO case, has reportedly filed for a mistrial. The report stems from court documents published by Law&Crime Network executive producer Cathy Russon. In them, Myrick’s legal team cites the recent leak of Lil Woody’s three-hour interrogation video. The leak has been spreading all over social media in recent days. The motion says that a court order previously mandated that discovery material not be shared on social media.

New York Times music reporter Joe Coscarelli posted the motion on Twitter as well. He writes, “The leak of this 3+ hour interrogation video regarding Young Thug and YSL — which is now excerpted on every rap gossip blog in existence (with lots wrong/out of context) — has led to a motion for mistrial today by one of the defendants.” During the video, Lil Woody can be seen appearing incredibly nervous as he speaks with police investigators. He didn’t have his lawyer with him at the time.

The Court Motion

The motion cites an order that states parties involved in the case should not disseminate discovery material on social media. The request explains, “On or about Friday, February 17, 2023, discovery material was disseminated on social media in clear violation of said Order. While said evidence may not directly implicate my client, it along with all of the publicity and courtroom incidents since the start of this trial that have not been the result of any conduct of my client, Jayden Myrick, make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial, as well as a jury that is honestly and truly fair and impartial. WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests a hearing in this matter instanter, and, that the case against him specifically, be dismissed with prejudice.”

Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, who is not currently seeking a mistrial, says that he’s still “shocked and disappointed”. “The release of this video harms Mr. Williams a great deal. These are just stories,” he told Coscarelli before adding, “We need a trial by a fair and impartial jury.” Cathy Russon says that the parties are at least two months away from finalizing a jury.

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Ex-Laker Trevor Ariza Receives Restraining Order From Wife, Turns Over Weapons

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Earlier this month, the wife of former Lakers player Trevor Ariza ran to authorities requesting a restraining order. Bree Anderson married the ex-NBA star in 2018 but has brought to light his abusive tendencies. With a divorce underway for this couple, Anderson revealed her fear for safety, and plead with the court for protection against Ariza. While the investigation is ongoing, the judge has granted Anderson a temporary restraining order, according to RadarOnline.

In addition, the 37-year-old athlete was ordered to turn in a series of weapons. Ariza has complied with authorities by giving up four guns to the Los Angeles Police Department. The firearms included two Glocks and two AR-15s, the news outlet reports. His weapons will remain in the possession of the authorities for the remainder of Anderson’s case.

Ariza’s Ex-Wife Seeks Protection

Former Lakers Star Trevor Ariza faces restraining order for alleged abuse against ex-wife. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

When Anderson initially sought protection against Ariza earlier this month, she claimed that he “engaged in acts of extreme physical abuse towards [her].” The victim continued in her statement, “he was verbally and emotionally abusive to me. Some of the abuse occurred in the presence of our children. I have been financially dependent on Trevor throughout our marriage.” Anderson also provided the court photographs of the aftermath of bruises caused by Ariza.

Throughout her statements, the alleged victim emotionally recounts the abuse she reportedly endured. On February 17th, 2020, she claimed Ariza severely choked her. “He immediately grabbed me by the throat and started choking me until I was unconscious,” Anderson reflected. Another instance occurred in 2021 when the basketball player demanded her phone. After refusing to turn it over, his wife claims that her husband choked her again, and punched her multiple times with a closed fist.

In her statement, Anderson summarizes the series of events and pleads with the court, claiming that “Trevor’s physical, verbal, and emotional abuse” warrants a restraining order. Currently, Ariza is temporarily prohibited from being within 100 yards of his soon-to-be ex-wife. On March 8th, the court will meet again to decide whether he will receive a permanent restraining order. For future updates on Ariza’s developing case, be sure to check back in with HNHH.

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