crime

Trey Songz, Atlantic Records & Kevin Liles Sued For Rape: Report

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Trey Songz continues to face allegations of sexual abuse. In recent years, there have been a number of claims against him alleging misconduct. Somehow, he managed to maintain a career through it all, though his accusers aren’t giving up in their attempts for justice. Per Rolling Stone, Jane Doe’s refiled a lawsuit against Songz on claims that the singer raped her in 2016. In the $25M lawsuit, Jane Doe also names Kevin Liles, Songz’s manager, Liles’ label, 300 Ent. and Trey Songz’s label, Atlantic Records.

Doe’s lawsuit reflects the one she previously filed. The judge dismissed that suit after shortly the singer’s team said her claims were past the statute of limitations. The lawsuit claims Songz led her to a bedroom at a party in L.A., where she believed that they were going to have a consensual encounter. She stated that the two have a consensual sexual history. However, she alleged that he held her to the ground and sodomized her. She added that he ignored her screams of pain as she pleaded with him to stop. 

Jane Doe Claims Kevin Liles and Atlantic Records Were Complicit Of Trey Songz’s Behavior 

Along with Trey Songz, his manager, and label are named in the lawsuit. Doe alleged that Liles, his label 300 Entertainment, and Songz’s label, Atlantic Record, have continued to work with Songz, despite the accusations. Her attorney claims that they are “responsible in some manner” for Songz’s behavior. Attorneys have recently employed this tactic when filing lawsuits against musicians. Last month, Interscope Records were named in a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Marilyn Manson. “It’s virtually impossible to believe that those executives are not and were not aware of the institutionalized sexual abuse,” a statement from Doe’s attorney George Vrabeck reads.

It appears that Songz has responded to the headlines since the initial report. As Jane Doe accused Songz of harassment and intimidation, the R&B singer maintained his innocence in a post shared on Instagram. “Lies will never be the truth. No matter who chooses to believe such,” he wrote. “ALHAMDULILLAH,” he added with a palms-out emoji. We’ll continue to keep you posted on any more developments in the case. 

XXXTENTACION’s Accused Killers Took Photos With Cash Robbed From Late Rapper: Report

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As we wait for more updates regarding Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial, another celebrity case has taken over the spotlight. Nearly five years after the tragic death of XXXTENTACION, the rapper’s murder suspects ate facing their day in court. Thus far, the details the jury has heard – including a video of the gruesome moment he was shot – are harrowing. At this time, more information only continues to come.

In this handout provided by the Miami Dade County Corrections, Rapper XXXTentacion, also known as Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy poses for his mugshot after being charged with seven new felonies stemming from a 2016 domestic violence case on December 15, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The new charges are for witness tampering and harassment. (Photo by Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images)

In a 2018 report, TMZ revealed that three of the four suspects knew each other beforehand. They also weren’t shy about flexing their money on social media. Weeks before X’s death, Dedrick Williams posted a video that sees him, Robert Allen, and Trayvon Newsome sifting through bills. Interestingly, Michael Boatwright wasn’t a part of these posts. However, he seemingly took a moment to pose with the money taken from the 20-year-old during the South Florida robbery.

Law&Crime Executive Producer Cathy Russon has been tweeting from the courtroom in the midst of this week’s trial. On Thursday (February 9), she had several updates to provide. Among them was Newsome yelling at Allen (who’s now acting as the state’s witness) while walking to the holding area. “There he is working with the police!” the former exclaimed. “You’re working with the white man now!”

Elsewhere in her coverage, the Twitter reporter revealed the aforementioned image of Boatright allegedly posing with money that was taken from XXXTENTACION just hours before. “Defendant turned state’s witness testifies this is X’s cash and photo taken after the homicide,” she explained in the caption. Another photo in the same thread sees Newsome smiling big while holding a stack of $100 bills in his hand.

“Pictures taken a couple days after #XXXTentacion murder. Shows defendant #MichaelBoatwright and #RobertAllen flashing a lot of cash,” Russon points out in another post. She also notes that the latter seen in the final photo has testified that the money belonged to the “Jocelyn Flores” artist. At the end of the thread, the journalist shares a picture of the gun Williams had on him during the assassination. This was also confirmed as per Allen.

Earlier this week, jurors also heard the Broward County native’s uncle recount the day of his death. As you may recall, X had his family member in the vehicle with him at the time of the tragic incident. Surprisingly, he even managed to make it out of his nephew’s luxury vehicle alive. Read everything Leonard Kerr had to say on the stand here, and check back later for more hip-hop news updates. RIP.

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Drake Ordered To Sit Down For Deposition In XXXTENTACION Murder Case

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For months, a lawyer of one of the co-defendants accused of murdering XXXTENTACION has attempted to rope Drake into the case. It began a few months ago when the prosecutors and defense attorneys submitted a potential witness list. The defense attorney for Dedrick Williams, Mauricio Padilla, listed a number of celebrities with known relationships and feuds with XXXTENTACION, including Quavo, Offset, Joe Budden, and Drake. Still, Broward County Judge Michael Usan didn’t initially think Drake’s presence was necessary in this case.

The prosecutors never suggested Drake had involvement in X’s death, though Padilla’s frequently pushed the theory that the Her Loss rapper was never investigated for the crime. “Before X died, he said, ‘If anybody kills me, it’s Drake.’ Do you think sitting here years later, any detective has ever asked Drake or anybody like that? No,” Padilla said during opening statements, per Complex. “This is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Excluding an order from this court, we all know that I will never be able to take his deposition.” 

Judge Grants Motion To Depose Drake

Per Rolling Stone, a judge granted Padilla’s petition for an “order to show cause.” This means Drake will now have to sit down for a deposition, scheduled for Feb. 24th, which will take place through Zoom, per Billboard. “If deponent Aubrey Drake Graham does not appear to deposition he must appear before this court on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at 10 a.m. EST at so [sic] the court can determine why he should not be held in contempt,” the motion reads.

Padilla cited the post from X where he alleged that Drake was trying to kill him. However, X later recanted his statement, claiming he was hacked. Still, Padilla referenced how their beef escalated throughout X’s career, including commentary from Akademiks, who reportedly warned X that “although he did not believe that Graham was a violent person, Onfroy could be pushing him to retaliate.” Furthermore, the filing includes quotes from X’s mom, who said she asked the rapper’s relatives to accompany him to purchase a motorcycle due to his “ongoing battle with Drake and Migos.” 

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XXXTENTACION Murder Trial: Codefendant Mocked Robert Allen For Taking Plea

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In the latest development of XXXTENTACION’s murder trial, a codefendant recently mocked former codefendant Robert Allen for taking a plea deal. Moreover, Allen is now a state’s witness, and he gave his testimony in court on Wednesday (February 8). During his remarks, he gave details as to what happened before the armed and eventually fatal robbery. However, a deputy in charge of transporting Allen recalled that codefendant Trayvon Newsome mocked Allen for his decision. While the deputy walked past the holding cell with Allen, Newsome shouted “There he is working with the police! You’re working with the white man now!”

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – AUGUST 7: (EDITORS NOTE: Best quality available) In this handout photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Trayvon Newsome, 20, a suspect in the shooting of rapper XXXTentacion, is seen in a police booking photo after his arrest on charges of first-degree murder August 7, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Broward County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)

Furthermore, Newsome stands charged along with Michael Boatwright and Dedrick Williams with first-degree murder and armed robbery. If convicted, the three will likely serve life in prison. During Robert Allen’s testimony, he said that Boatwright fired the gun that fatally struck X. Also, he denied that anyone hired him to commit the robbery, and that him, Boatwright, and Newsome were hesitant. However, according to Allen, Williams mocked the now codefendants into attacking XXXTENTACION, which the mocking of Allen’s plea deal echoed.

Also, jurors recently saw the full graphic video of the late rapper’s death. While videos of it surfaced online shortly after he passed, many demanded posters to delete them out of respect. Meanwhile, Allen also acknowledged a few other elements of his story. “I couldn’t see or hear what XXX was saying,” he claimed, as he did not want to exit the vehicle. Moreover, their Dodge SUV blocked X’s car as the robbery occurred. “I knew there was a good chance I would get caught. I did not want to get arrested.”

Another witness to the murder was the late Jahseh Onfroy’s uncle, Leonard Kerr. “We get in the car to drive out. At the exit, when we pull out, we stop,” Kerr recounted. “[XXXTENTACION] looked to the left. I looked to the right. By the time [XXXTENTACION] looked to the left, I see a car coming down the block and blocked the entrance. After the car pulled by the entrance, two persons jump out the side doors. One come on Jahseh side, one come on the side that I’m on. The taller one do like this, ‘You don’t come out of the f***ing car.’ The other one was at Jahseh’s side…He was saying, ‘Give me the chain. Where’s the chain?’” After composing himself, Kerr continued to say he ran and, upon returning to the murder scene, called X’s mother. Come back to HNHH for the latest updates on this story.

Jurors See Graphic Video Of XXXTentacion Murder

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After years of preparation and investigation, the trial for the murder of Jahseh Onfroy is underway. Better known globally as XXXTentacion, Onfroy was gunned down in his home state in the summer of 2018. Four people were arrested in connection with the crime, and three are currently on trial after their accomplice turned state’s witness. Robert Allen has taken the stand against Michael Boatwright, 27, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24. He detailed the plot to rob Onfroy.

CBS News further reported that the jury sat through the full surveillance video that showed the moment Onfroy was killed. That day, the rapper withdrew $50,000 from a back and later visited a motorbike shop. He was sitting in his BMW about to leave the parking lot when he was accosted but the group and shot in his driver’s seat.

MIAMI BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 06: Rapper XXXTentacion attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET )
Read More: XXXTentacion Defendant Takes Stand As State’s Witness

Robert Allen, 26, reportedly pleaded guilty to second-degree murder back in August 2022. The other defendants are all looking at first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. Attorneys for the defense further argued that Allen was lying about the botched robbery to save his own skin. Allen claimed he and the defendants conspired on June 17, the day before the murder, to rent a vehicle. The purpose was to drive around the city and rob people. They reportedly purchased masks, armed themselves with guns, and went to find potential victims.

“Deidrick said it’s XXX,” Allen said of running into Onfroy by chance. The group quickly constructed a plan. They allegedly waited for Onfroy to leave the store. In the video jurors saw, the crew’s Dodge SUV blocked Tentacion’s car and prevented him from leaving. CBS News also reported, “Two men, one of them armed with a long-barrel rifle, went to his car to demand his jewelry and take his designer bag.”

Read More: XXXTentacion’s Uncle Recounts Day Of Rapper’s Murder

Another person was in the car with Onfroy when he was murdered, but they ran for safety. They were described as a relative. “I couldn’t see or hear what XXX was saying,” Allen also claimed. He didn’t get out of the vehicle because “I knew there was a good chance I would get caught. I did not want to get arrested.” Because he didn’t leave the SUV, Allen was only given $5,000 of the stolen money.

Immediately following Onfroy’s murder, clips of him dying in his vehicle circulated online. People quickly called for them to be taken down. Additionally, the three defendants on trial face upwards of life in prison.

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Defense Attorney In XXXTENTACION Murder Trial Brings Up Drake Again

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Drake and XXXTENTACION beef stems from the Florida rapper’s hit record, “LOOK AT ME!”. Shortly after the release of More Life, X accused Drizzy of stealing his flow on one of the songs. Some felt as though it was a reach but Akademiks later confirmed that X was on Drake’s radar at that point. So, it seemed highly likely that Drake took inspiration from X’s hit record, at the very least, when he dropped the Giggs-assisted, “KMT.” However, their feud didn’t end there.

Unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to bury the hatchet. X continued to throw shots at Drake who publicly ignored them. However, many fans believe Drake responded subliminally on records. This led to bizarre theories tying Drake to the murder of XXXTENTACION. Again, it seems like a reach but the defense attorneys for one of the alleged killers have tried to push this narrative several times in court. In fact, he asked the judge to demand Drake to sit down for a deposition ahead of the trial, which was later denied. 

Defense Attorney Blames Drake For XXXTENTACION’s Death

A defense attorney in the XXXTENTACION case that continues to accuse Drake of the Florida rapper’s murder. During the opening statements, attorney Mauricio Padilla stated that  Broward County Sheriff’s Office was under pressure to find the suspects since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting happened months before. Though four men were arrested, Padilla said that authorities didn’t explore all of the potential suspects. Specifically, he mentioned X’s long-standing rival, Drake, due to the online tension between them.

Padilla cited a post on XXXTENTACION’s Instagram that read, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi.” Though X later claimed he was hacked, Padilla used this point to deflect the evidence surrounding his client. During the pre-trial, Padilla also brought up several other artists and celebrities on the potential witness lists. Along with Drake, Padilla mentioned Joe Budden, Offset, Quavo, and even 6ix9ine. It seems highly unlikely that any of these individuals will appear in court. We’ll continue to provide more updates on the trial of the suspects accused of murdering XXXTENTACION.

Young Thug Trial: Jury Selection To Continue For Several Months

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Young Thug and his co-defendants are currently awaiting trial for the YSL RICO case. Since the arrest last year, Thug remained behind bars, though several co-defendants copped deals. Gunna, Young Thug’s most successful protegé, took an Alford Plea in December that brought him home just before the jury selection process began. Many questioned Gunna’s loyalty, including Bandman Kevo, who asked for a refund on a feature he paid for last year. However, the remaining co-defendants in the case will likely wait for months before the trial begins.

Last month, the jury selection process began in the YSL case and it’s been rather unsuccessful for the most part. Several incidents have occurred, such as one juror who went on vacation in the midst of jury selection. The judge then asked that a potential juror write a 30-page essay on the importance of jury duty as punishment. Shortly after, reports emerged that it would take a few more weeks to choose the jurors. However, it seems like even that wasn’t an accurate reflection of how long the process will take. 

Jury Selection Process In YSL Trial Will Continue

According to AJC, the jury selection process will continue for the next few months. Jozsef Papp reports that the court will summon 300 jurors on Feb. 24th and another 300 on March 17th. Judge Glanville determined that the time spent on questioning and striking remaining jurors will largely depend on how many are brought in daily. The process can take up to four months if only 3 to 5 are heard a day, or it could be as short as 2 ½ months if entire panels of 12 a day are brought in. 

The end goal is to secure a pool of 90 jurors to select a jury of 12, and six alternates. Clearly, there have been a number of difficulties in the past few weeks, especially as the judge agreed to dismiss several jurors. This also means that Young Thug and his co-defendants will remain behind bars until the trial begins. We’ll continue to keep you posted on any further developments on Young Thug and the YSL RICO trial. 

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Courtroom Video Shows XXXTENTACION Pull Out Cash At Bank Of America: Watch

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It’s been roughly five years since XXXTENTACION was shot and killed in broad daylight. However, today marks the beginning of the trial for the three suspects allegedly involved in the rapper’s murder. Though there have been a number of delays and requests, the trial finally began on Monday.

Michael Boatwright, 27, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24 are facing trial for their alleged involvement in X’s death. Prosecutors charged each with first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. They pinned Boatwright as the triggerman while alleging Newsome pointed a gun at the rapper – a claim that X’s uncle seemingly confirmed on the stand. However, Boatwright’s attorney stated that his client wasn’t present at the shooting nor could they be identified since the perpetrators wore masks when they shot the rapper. Newsome’s attorney also stated that he would prove his client wasn’t present at the time of X’s murder. A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and will testify during the trial. 

Along with opening statements, there were also several witnesses who took the stand. A teller from the Bank of America said that X first tried to withdraw $250K cash. However, the teller said the bank didn’t have that kind of cash on hand. During court, prosecutors shared video of X pulling out money from the bank on the day he passed. 

The suspects robbed XXXTENTACION of $50K in cash that the rapper kept in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag. A family relative of X, Leonard Kerr, also took the stand as a witness. Kerr accompanied X to the dealership where he tried to purchase a car. “His mom asked me to accompany him,” Kerr stated when asked why he was with X. During his testimony, he recalled warning the rapper to zip up his duffle bag in order to prevent attracting unwanted attention. 

Kerr also recalled the moment when the gunman approached the vehicle. He stated that he managed to run from the passenger side as soon as he saw weapons pointed toward him. When he returned, he saw XXXTENTACION unconscious in the vehicle. We’ll continue to keep you updated on any more information regarding the case.

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