Anyone who watched Love & Hip Hop New York is familiar with Mendeecees and his wife Yandy Smith-Harris’s story. The pair became reality television icons when they first appeared in the franchise, albeit then, they were just dating. Their ups and downs were well-documented, but things took a turn when Mendeecees was sentenced to prison. Amid his fame on VH1, federal authorities locked in on Harris, charging him with drug trafficking. Later, Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
He began his eight-year sentence at the top of 2016, and by 2020, he was once again a free man. Mendeecees visited Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, where he reflected on engaging in street life. He also made a shocking admission when he shared that he once put his mother, Judy, “up for collateral.” Sharpe couldn’t believe it, but Mendeecees explained what happened.
Mendeecees Harris Didn’t Weigh The Seriousness Of His Decision
Judy Harris also starred in Love & Hip Hop alongside her son and daughter-in-law. She was known as a dedicated, yet often meddling mother who wanted the best for her son. “I was getting a bunch of keys, and they was like, ‘Well, you gotta show me where your mom live at, because if you run off on this, we can’t afford for you to run off,’” Harris recalled. “I had no intention of running off, so I was like, ‘I’ll show you.’”
Harris further stated that Judy didn’t know that occurred, and he never told anyone the story. He also informed Sharpe that because he never thought of scamming anyone, he wasn’t concerned about anything happening to his loved ones. Understandably, reactions to this revelation are still pouring in. The clip of the interview has been shared far and wide, and in each comment section, people are questioning how someone could add their mother’s name to their criminal activities.
A Better Life
Additionally, Mendeecees Harris declared he’s finished with that life, and is making better decisions for his family. “When I look back at the decisions I made now, I be like, “I can’t believe I’m still here.” The Club Shay Shay conversation is quite insightful, so watch more of the interview above.