crime

Hoodrich Pablo Juan Sentenced To 15 Years After Plea Deal In RICO Case

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Hoodrich Pablo Juan is presently looking down the barrel of 15 years in prison.

The 33-year-old rapper was becoming well known – especially in his Atlanta, Georgia area – for his innovative beats and aggressive flows. With collaborations alongside Playboi Carti, Migos, Gucci Mane, and more, the up-and-coming rapper was finally beginning to break into the mainstream.

A prior 1017 Eskimo member, Juan was one of the most promising standouts of Gucci Mane’s lineup. However, like many other talented artists, legal issues frequently complicated his career.

The New Jersey-born musician was previously taken into custody back in 2020 on account of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations charges. As you may know, these are some of the most serious allegations one can receive.

The state of Georgia had been investigating over 40 suspects including him. The final indictment was massive, including 59 counts of violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, 24 counts of aggravated assault, and four counts of kidnapping.

Hoodrich Pablo Juan performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby’s new album “Street Gossip” at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Additionally, four counts of murder, 92 counts of RICO, three counts of trafficking methamphetamine, and three counts of trafficking heroin were a part of the same indictment.

Since then Pablo Juan has reportedly reached a plea deal. According to court documents, he was given a 15-year sentence. That said, due to his plea, his final time is now down to at least five years in prison. Afterward, he can serve the remaining 10 years on probation.

A couple of trials and a bit of jail time aren’t enough to kill HPJ’s passion for music. His most recent mixtape was aptly titled Free Hood which he dropped in late 2021.

Check out the whole project here and let us know what you think of the RICO charges in the comments. Does Pablo Juan deserve what he got? Or are you team #FREEHOOD?

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Tory Lanez & Prince From “Love & Hip-Hop” Settle Alleged Assault Cases

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Tory Lanez and Love & Hip-Hop: Miami star Prince are reaching a settlement over a number of past assault allegations, reports reveal.

The rapper’s new attorney, Kadisha Phelps has specifically shared that the Brampton native agreed to the financial deal. This comes as part of the lawyer’s plea to further remove the trial date completely.

Tory Lanez discusses his creative process during BMI’s How I Wrote That Song 2018 on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI)

Phelps says she has “information to believe that a settlement has already been reached between the parties and [Lanez] has tendered funds to [Prince] in consummation of their agreement.”

The alleged assaults stem from two separate incidents between the reality star and rapper at two different Miami nightclubs.

The first allegedly took place in November of 2019 at LIV Nightclub. Prince says that Lanez swung his fists and punched him in the face after a verbal confrontation.

The 32-year-old also alleges that the “Say It” singer’s security assaulted him. Ultimately, this caused blunt-force trauma to his back, neck and chest.

The second incident took place when the two got into it at Vendome Nightclub in Miami a year later. Prince claims that the R&B vocalist later let his anger get the best of him again, punching the Love & Hip-Hop star in the face.

A trial date of December 5 was previously set, but Phelps believes it’s no longer necessary. Her client has been busy putting together a defense for the criminal trial involving his alleged shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. That trial will begin next week, on December 12.

Lanez is also allegedly responsible for an assault on fellow artist August Alsina that took place in September. The D.A. is currently looking into this case.

After his last lawyer dropped him for “irreconcilable differences” earlier this year, Phelps began representing the Canadian rapper. She has put in a request for that trial date to move four months.

The 30-year-old is arguing that his actions were self-defense.

Read more about the latest updates in Tory Lanez’s ongoing legal battles and stay tuned for updates.

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PnB Rock Shooting Timeline Reveals A Potential Fourth Suspect

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PnB Rock was peacefully laid to rest at just 30 years old last month, but the Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate exactly what led up to the recording artist being fatally shot in front of his girlfriend at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles.

According to a new report from Fox 11 Los Angeles, the “Selfish” hitmaker’s death may have a fourth suspect who authorities are currently on the hunt for, as they say this person likely played an instrumental role in the fatal tragedy.

PnB Rock attends Sprite ‘Thirst For Yours’ Launch Event at The Terrace at L.A. Live on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Sprite)

The outlet shared that prosecutors believe there was an unidentified man outside the restaurant on the city’s south side when PnB arrived to dine with his partner. He waited until Freddie Lee Trone (who was already arrested in connection with the murder along with his 17-year-old son earlier this week) arrived outside the joint, and the two were seen having a conversation before Trone left and returned with his son, whose name remains anonymous at this time.

The teen was reportedly dropped off within walking distance of Roscoe’s. When entering the restaurant, he allegedly pointed a gun at Rock’s partner, Steph Sibounheuang, telling her to “Give me all of your jewelry now!”

Reports reveal that PnB – born Rakim Allen – was shot in the chest just moments later. The gunman hit the recording artist twice more in the back after he fell to the ground, then turned back to Sibounheuang and said, “Show me your hands, give me that — right now. I swear to God! I shoot you in the head!”

After Steph gave over all of her possessions, the attacker proceeded to remove Allen’s chains, watch, and even his rings as he lay bleeding on the floor. The suspect is said to have run outside to his father’s car afterward, with the two then returning to their home.

These new details provide a different timeline of events than the one authorities initially believed when the 17-year-old unnamed Trone was arrested on Tuesday (September 27).

Read more about the recent arrests related to PnB Rock’s tragic death here, and tap back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop news updates.

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Young Thug Asks Judge To Suppress Involuntary Interrogation In RICO Case

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As the YSL RICO trial nears closer, it seems Young Thug and his attorney Brian Steel are getting their affairs in order in hopes of getting the rapper his freedom back.

Though he was denied bond and is due to remain behind bars until January of 2023, the “Day Before” artist is said to be in good spirits, even somehow managing to show love to his rumoured girlfriend Mariah The Scientist and the late PnB Rock on his Twitter feed.

According to AllHipHop, the latest update from Thugger’s case reveals that he’s filed a motion requesting that the overseeing judge rule to suppress some statements he made while in police custody during an involuntary interrogation.

The Atlanta native’s lawyer has issued claims that two law enforcement officers interrogated his client in the Dekalb County Jail despite him never having waived his Miranda rights. According to Steel, Cobb County Investigator David Raissi and ATF Special Agent T. Cunningham placed the rapper in an interrogation room without his legal counsel’s permission, knowledge, or consent.

“All of [Young Thug’s] statements must be suppressed from the trial in the above-referenced case, and all witnesses must be instructed not to utter the fact that [Young Thug] made any statements which were not voluntarily made, were made in violation of his Constitutional right to counsel and made in violation of Miranda warning,” the filing declares.

In this handout photo provided by the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office, rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams, aka Young Thug, is seen in a police booking photo after turning himself in for outstanding drug and firearm charges September 13, 2018 in Decatur, Georgia. The charges stem from a traffic stop last year where police allegedly found drugs and a gun. (Photo by DeKalb County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images)

“Additionally, no mention can be made that [Young Thug] was given the opportunity to speak with law enforcement since this is post-arrest.”

At the same time, it’s been noted that the 31-year-old has requested that the judge return computers and phones that were seized from his Sandy Springs, Georgia home in July of 2015 when he was handed felony charges.

Thug allegedly threatened a security guard at a mall prior to the incident, leading authorities to raid his house and uncover an assortment of drugs and guns. Ultimately, though, the charges were tossed when a trial ruled that the search was unconstitutional.

The devices taken were suppressed by written order in April of 2017 and intended to be returned to the YSL leader, but he never saw them again. They instead ended up being sent to a company called Cellebrite by Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Sprinkel to be searched.

Steel has pointed out that there was no valid search warrant allowing this after the 2017 ruling, and that searching them in May of that year was a violation of Thugger’s “possessory interests in his lawfully obtained property that the prosecution had absolutely no legal right to possess.”

Ultimately, the end goal of this filing is for Judge Ural Glanville to suppress any statement Thug made during the aforementioned interrogation, as well as any evidence that may have come from his phones, hard drives, and computers.

See the legal documents for yourself here, and tap back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop news updates.

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California Becomes First U.S. State To Ban Using Rap Lyrics In Court

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California has become the first state in the U.S. to ban lyrics from being used against rappers as evidence in court proceedings. The landmark law came into effect on Friday, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to limit “creative content” from being held against artist or musicians in the state. It’s been a long and arduous fight for advocates against this practice, but recent legislation in New York points towards a brighter future along with this bill. Amid the YSL indictment that put Young Thug and Gunna behind bars in large part due to their lyrics, fans are probably grateful to see their outrage result in action from authorities.

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California – Monica Schipper/Getty Images

That New York bill did not completely ban the use of lyrics, though, and there’s a similar loophole in California’s bill: lyrics can be used but only if reviewed and deemed necessary for the verdict by the judge. Even with this caveat, AB 2799 (the Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act) is a one-of-a-kind piece of legislation that takes unprecedented steps to protect rappers’ creative works. Governor Newsom signed the bill on a Zoom call with rappers E-40, Meek Mill, Killer Mike, YG, and more in attendance.

Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, who introduced the bill, expressed his belief that the DAE Act “will give judges needed guidance for evaluating whether a creative expression is admissible during a criminal trial and provides a framework which will ensure creative expression will not be used to trigger or reinforce stereotypes or activate racial bias.” Entertainment attorney Dina Polt was one of many to celebrate the achievement.

“This legislation sets up important guardrails that will help courts hold prosecutors accountable and prevent them from criminalizing Black and Brown artistic expression,” she stated. “Thank you, Gov. Newsom, for setting the standard. We hope Congress will pass similar legislation, as this is a nationwide problem.”

A similar bill was introduced in Congress last July, so rap lyrics might still have a chance for salvation at the federal level. For now, state laws are what stands between a rapper’s artistic expression and jail time, and California is setting an important precedent for the rest of the union.

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Lil Zay Osama Arrested After Leaving Gun In An Uber: Report

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This is an unfortunate turn of events for Lil Zay Osama. As the industry descends on Atlanta for the BET Hip Hop Awards, Zay was in Queens, New York, catching an Uber on what was expected to be a problem-free day. However, the rapper found himself arrested—and not only that, he reportedly was on Livestream when approached by the police.

According to the New York Post, Lil Zay Osama and “several associates” were passengers in a Uber ride that reportedly traveled from a hotel to a recording studio.

During the ride, the driver was said to have seen Zay handling a firearm, and when the rapper got out of the vehicle, he reportedly left “a .40 caliber Glock” behind.

The driver called the police and gave the names of the passengers, resulting in the authorities learning that Lil Zay Osama had a previous weapons conviction, among other charges on his record. The firearm was tested and it showed that the gun was modified to fire “more than one round with a single trigger pull.”

A round was reportedly in the chamber and nine others in the magazine. Investigators alleged that the firearm functioned much like a machine gun.

“The defendant — a convicted felon —carried a loaded pistol affixed with a switch device, rendering the gun to be a machine gun,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Schuman. “The defendant poses a danger to the community based on his

Lil Zay Osama has been charged with possession of a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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Kodak Black Upsets Public With PnB Rock Chicken & Waffles Tribute

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The Los Angeles Police Department worked quickly to identify and arrest the suspects they believed were involved in PnB Rock’s murder. Hip Hop lost the Philadelphia rapper after he was robbed and gunned down at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles. A video of the horrific scene was shared on social media and quickly, speculative reports surfaced, blaming Rock’s girlfriend for sharing their location.

After facing public scrutiny, the rapper’s girlfriend was seemingly cleared. It was later reported that the alleged suspects involved were apparently in the parking lot of the eatery prior to PnB Rock showing up, making the callous murder a chance encounter.

(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

Three people have been arrested and charged with the crime, including a 17-year-old who was reportedly named as the shooter. His father, Freddie Lee Trone, and stepmother, Shauntel Trone, have been designated as accomplices to the crime and its cover-up.

Freddie Lee Trone (Photo by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Getty Images)

“The murder of Mr. Allen dimmed a bright light in the lives of his fans, friends and most importantly his family,” District Attorney George Gascón reportedly stated. “The accused individuals’ alleged actions in this case were heartless and cruel and robbed the world of Mr. Allen’s talents.”

As this news was shared, Kodak Black appeared on social media with a tribute of sorts for PnB Rock by uploading a photo that showed a plate of chicken and waffles. Some people quickly took to the internet to call him out for being insensitive.

“LongLive PNB !” Kodak wrote in the caption, before adding that the food was “good.” Check out the post and a few reactions below.

Instagram

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Kim Kardashian Advocates For Gunna’s Release

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She has a proven track record of helping the incarcerated attain freedom, and Kim Kardashian looks to be advocating for Gunna’s release. The rapper has remained behind bars for months, following being named alongside Young Thug and several others in a massive RICO case in Georgia. The authorities claim that YSL is not a record label but a criminal street gang, however, both Thugger and Gunna’s teams have stated otherwise.

When it was first announced that the two rappers were taken into custody, people began sending Kardashian public pleas to help in their release.

It was recently shared that Gunna reportedly filed paperwork for a 3rd bond hearing. In the documents, his legal team argued that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to continue to hold him, and as that information circulated, Kardashian shared a message on her Instagram Story.

“Gunna has reportedly been dropped from any violence acts and hasn’t been named by any of the witnesses,” the post reads. “He’s spent 141 days in jail so far and will have a 3rd attempt at bond soon.”

The upload was accompanied by an Instagram post that reads, “FREE GUNNA.”

It has been expected that Gunna would find his way home soon, and possibly most charges dropped, but conversations regarding Young Thug’s case are more ominous. Investigators have named him as the head of YSL and alleged that the Rap icon has been personally responsible for calling shots on illegal activities. One issue that is continuously mentioned is Thugger’s animosity with YFN Lucci, as authorities claimed that Thugger was involved in an attack on Lucci behind bars.

Both Thugger and Gunna have denied the allegations against them. They are reportedly slated to go to trial early next year.