trial

Pras Testifies In His Own Federal Trial

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Pras took the stand in his own federal trial on Tuesday, during which he discussed his relationship with Malaysian financier Jho Low. In doing so, he revealed that he worked as an FBI informant in China’s efforts to extradite billionaire Guo Wengui.

Pras explained that he made the decision to testify, an unusual move by a defendant, “after consulting with my attorneys and the universe.” In addition to covering Guo Wengiu, Pras says that he also discussed three Americans that China was holding hostage with the FBI. “I took it upon myself to report because I thought the FBI should know,” he said.

Pras Arrives At Court

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 03: Pras Michel, a member of the Fugees and his lawyer David Kenner (R) arrive at U.S. District Court on April 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. Michel is on trial for his alleged participation in a campaign finance conspiracy. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

As for his relationship with Jho Low, Pras told jurors he served as his “celebrity surrogate.” He added that Low paid him $20 million to get him a photo with former President Barrack Obama in 2012. “They didn’t want the optics at that time,” Pras said. “At that point, Jho Low was a party guy — Vegas, champagne, parties with Paris Hilton. The campaign just didn’t want that.”

While Pras claims that all of his actions were by the book, the prosecution alleges the Fugees rapper was paid hundreds of millions of embezzled Malaysian dollars to run a foreign-influence campaign against the U.S. government. “The defendant needed money and was willing to do anything to get it, including being an agent of the Chinese government,” prosecutor Nicole Lockhart said. “The defendant wanted money and was willing to break any laws necessary to get paid.”

Pras says that he never made any political donations on Low’s behalf and he only ever used his own money. He also says he ran everything he did by his lawyers to ensure he was doing everything correctly. Pras has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and falsifying records. He faces 22 years in prison if convicted.

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Lawyers In Young Thug’s YSL RICO Case Threatened With Contempt Over “Professionalism”

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Judge Ural Glanville got into it with attorneys Anastassios Manettas and Eric R. Johnson, who are representing Miles Farley and Christian Eppinger in the ongoing YSL RICO case involving Young Thug. Glanville threatened them with jail time for contempt of court after Manettas refused to buy lunch for all the lawyers in the case. He also ordered them to complete a 17-page essay on “the importance of professionalism,” and “treating one’s opponents with civility.”

“A 17-page paper on the importance of professionalism in the legal field and treating one’s opponents with civility. Paper is to be published quality in APA format and at least 10 primary and secondary sources,” the Judge said in a clip from court uploaded by Law&Crime Network. “April 28 at noon or you do 20 days,” Glanville said to Johnson.

Young Thug With Gunna At The BET Awards

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 01: Young Thug and Gunna attend the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 01, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

Before the day ended, Glanville further reminded the court of being professional. “It has been brought to my attention that some of you at various times have gotten cross purposes with our court personnel. And this falls under the general category of professionalism and our obligations as counsel…. Do not provide extra items in contravention of the things that our deputy have told you,” the judge also said. “On a basic level, folks, all of us are still subject to the rules to include the court. So please don’t put yourself cross purposes with the court.”

The latest incident comes after one lawyer in the trial went viral on social media, Monday, for using the term, “cap,” while addressing the judge in court. The full case is expected to break records as the longest criminal trial in Fulton County history. It is now the third month of jury selection and experts expect the trial itself to take at least nine months in total. The time commitment is reportedly further playing a role in the difficulty of finding a jury.

The YSL RICO Trial

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Megan Thee Stallion Reflects On Tory Lanez’s Guilty Verdict

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Megan Thee Stallion says that the idea of people not believing her accusations against Tory Lanez never originally occurred to her. The Traumazine rapper reflected on the guilty verdict in Lanez’s trial during a new interview with Elle. She says that the extensive discussion will be her last public comment on the matter.

“It never crossed my mind that people wouldn’t believe me,” Megan said. “For years, my attacker tried to leverage social media to take away my power. Imagine how it feels to be called a liar every day?”

Megan Thee Stallion Arriving At 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)

The Toronto rapper ended up being found guilty of shooting Megan after a party in the summer of 2020. He was convicted on three felony counts and faces up to 20 years in prison. “Still, I knew the truth and the indisputable facts would prevail,” Megan continued. “I had worked way too hard to reach this point in my career to let taunts deter me. When the guilty verdict came on Dec. 23, 2022, it was more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them.”

As for where she’s at now, Megan says that she’s doing much better but is still battling with leftover anxiety from the entire ordeal. “I’m in a happier place, but I still have anxiety,” she admitted to the outlet. “I’ve accepted this chapter of my life as part of my journey, but I will not allow it to define my journey. I’ve been dragged through the mud, but I’m so happy that I’m able to finally come out of it with a new perspective.”

Tory Lanez isn’t giving up yet, however. He’s filed a motion seeking a new trial while arguing jurors were “erroneously allowed” to see an Instagram comment. The comment reportedly shows Lanez stating that Megan’s former friend Kelsey Harris was not the shooter.

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DaBaby Accused Of Withholding Evidence In Assault Case

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DaBaby just can’t seem to catch a break. In recent years, his music career has been extremely overshadowed by his legal troubles and personal drama. His issues started before he was even signed to a label, but they seem to have gotten worse and worse since. Recently, the rapper has been embroiled in a legal battle with a property manager. In 2020, DaBaby rented a house in Los Angeles. The property manager was not made aware that the rapper was planning to film a video at the house. As this was not allowed, the manager attempted to enforce the rules of the rental. That is when DaBaby allegedly assaulted him.

Now, the property manager’s legal team is claiming that DaBaby and his legal team are withholding evidence. Namely, they say that the rapper has videos and photos of the incident that he is refusing to produce in court. DaBaby is dealing with both a civil and a criminal trial in regard to the incident. In the civil suit, the property manager is seeking $2 million from the rapper. DaBaby’s legal team says that they will not be producing any of the supposed evidence until after he testifies in the criminal trial.

DaBaby’s Controversies: A Timeline

DaBaby attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center.
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)

DaBaby’s legal battles started in 2018, before he had even signed to a record label. The rapper was involved in an altercation in a North Carolina Walmart that led to him killing a teenager. At the time, he claimed self-defense and what police saw on the security footage corroborated his story. However, the footage has since emerged, and people question whether or not it really was self-defense. In early 2020, DaBaby was sued by a concert promoter after the rapper assaulted him. He went to jail for the attack but has since denied the incident took place. However, the entire thing is on video.

In March 2020, the rapper allegedly slapped a female fan on the way to the stage for a performance. Then, in July 2021, he made some extremely homophobic comments during his Rolling Loud set. Additionally, he also collaborated with Tory Lanez after the Megan Thee Stallion shooting. In February 2022, DaBaby and his entourage attacked DaniLeigh’s brother at a bowling alley. Sadly, the events listed here only scratch the surface of the rapper’s horrible behavior. Even worse, DaBaby remains unapologetic for almost every controversy, assault, and murder that he’s been involved in. What do you think about the newest allegations? Let us know in the comments.

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YNW Melly’s Trial Begins Jury Selection

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YNW Melly’s ongoing case regarding double-murder charges has officially begun jury selection and has a trial date set for June 5, 2023, according to his mother, Jamie King. King shared the news on her Instagram page, Monday night.

“Official update on @ynwmelly we started jury selection today and will continue over the next 2 weeks. Trial will start June 5, 2023 no more delays,” the post reads. “#mellyfree2023.” In the caption, King adds, “Melly coming home. Today I went to court expecting more delays but we started jury selection. I can’t explain how I feel my anxiety is everywhere but God got us. #mellyfree2023 @_ynwbslime got see his brother on his birthday first time in 4yrs.” One fan wrote in response to the post, “We miss u Melly.” Another remarked, “I’ve been waiting since 8th grade.”

Jamie King’s Update

Melly later confirmed the news in a post on his own Instagram page, calling on his fans to come support him in court. “I Got court Today for all my supporters that want to come show support this been a long journey,” he wrote. “God is on my side.”

YNW Melly’s mother has been sharing numerous updates on her son since he was imprisoned in 2019. Earlier this year, King posted a handwritten letter from the rapper. “Hey ma, damn y’all made my night my whole month,” Melly wrote with hearts. “So glad I seen y’all. I hope y’all seen me. I know y’all did right when you went screamin ‘I SEE HIM’ they made you leave. [annoyed face] I’m so glad I seen you ma! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Tell Grandma & Silas I love them and appreciate them so much. It was good to see them as well.”

Melly was originally arrested in Miramar, Florida for the October 2018 double murder of YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. He’s been in prison in the years since while awaiting trial for the alleged incident. Last year, he released a statement complaining about the harsh conditions he’s subject to behind bars. At that time, he claimed to be dealing with threats and abuse by jail staff. He added that he’s the only inmate with “no phone privilege, no television, and no access to a newspaper.”

YNW Melly’s Message For His Fans

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Young Thug Case: Potential Juror Jailed For Recording Trial

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The latest update in the Young Thug case, where several other YSL members face RICO charges, concerns the seemingly unending jury selection process. Moreover, it’s been months of consistent delays and lengthy court proceedings to pick the case’s jury. Of course, it’s quite the complicated and high-profile indictment, so it’s understandable while still being frustrating. However, given all the leaked information that emerged surrounding this case, Judge Glanville tried very hard to keep things within the courtroom. As such, he sentenced a potential juror to three days in jail for recording part of the trial proceedings.

Although it’s unclear whether the recording in question actually came out, such actions could greatly affect the process. For example, leak of an interrogation of a YSL affiliate put said member in danger, caused a wave of speculation online, and made a codefendant seek mistrial. Despite probes into these leaks, it’s hard to identify who is putting out what on the Internet and social media. Not only that, but Judge Glanville specifically told all potential jurors that they couldn’t record anything in these proceedings.

Young Thug Trial Recording Gets Potential Juror Jailed

Furthermore, the juror candidate in question faced accusations of live-streaming court proceedings on March 17. Reportedly, she claimed that she took a quick video and then promptly deleted it after a fellow potential juror told her she’s not supposed to do that. Moreover, she says that deputies confiscated her phone and found the vid in the “recently deleted” folder. She further explained that it was her first time being called as a juror. Thus, she didn’t know what was allowed and what wasn’t. However, Glanville pushed back on this, as he maintained that he made guidelines very clear.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the court summoned around 1,200 potential jurors for this case. Still, not one has been selected as of yet. Given this and other curious developments in the case, this process will likely take weeks or months to complete. In the meantime, fans hold out hope that this case can at least get going as fast as possible. With that in mind, stick around on HNHH for the latest on the YSL trial and Young Thug.

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Leonardo DiCaprio Testifies Against Pras Michel

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In one of the strangest media crossover events so far this year, Leonardo DiCaprio testified against Pras Michel in the latter’s ongoing conspiracy trial. Moreover, the former Fugees member stands accused of collaborating with Malaysian businessman Jho Low to illegally finance Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, embezzle billions from the Malaysian government, and more. During his testimony, the silver screen star went over his relationship with Low in interesting detail. While Pras pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, Leo is not criminally involved in this case.

Instead, prosecutors likely used him as an example of Low coercing influential people in the States and seeking favor with them for his own personal gain. Before anyone starts speculating, DiCaprio’s testimony does not incriminate him or his collaborators in any way. In the hour-long testimony, the Inception actor said he became friends with Low upon meeting at a birthday party in 2010. Two years later, Low allegedly told him about his plan to donate between $20 million and $30 million to the Democratic Party throughout the 2012 presidential election.

Leonardo DiCaprio & Pras Michel On Opposite Sides Of Courtroom

Not only that, but prosecutors maintain that Low used a film production company called Red Granite Pictures to launder his embezzled money. Furthermore, this relates to Leo because, apparently, they offered to finance his flick The Wolf Of Wall Street. Before accepting, the actor’s legal team and third party collaborators ran financial background checks on the production company. Surprisingly (and clearly incorrectly), everything seemed normal. What’s more is that the 48-year-old even thanked Low during his Golden Globes acceptance speech for Best Actor for his role in the film.

Meanwhile, Leo said that he met Pras once or twice. The first time was during a Fugees concert in the ’90s, whereas he hazily remembered interacting with him on another occasion at DiCaprio’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Funnily enough, the actor recently hung out with Q-Tip courtside at a basketball game, so his hip-hop roots run deep. Regardless, the rapper stands accused of making illegal campaign contributions with Low in 2012, failing to register as an agent of China’s government, and witness tampering. With all that in mind, log back into HNHH for the latest on Leonardo DiCaprio and Pras Michel.

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Pras Michel Conspiracy Trial Begins

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The trial involving Pras Michel began on Monday (March 27) in Washington D.C., more specifically its jury selection. Moreover, according to an NPR report, the Fugees member faces various charges such conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as an agent of China. For those unaware, an investigation into potential embezzlement of millions to help Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign found Pras at the center around December of 2018. Since then, he faced other legal woes for failing to pay child support, but a broader federal case is now underway.

Furthermore, his legal troubles actually caused the cancellation of the Fugees’ reunion tour back in August of 2022. To elaborate on the charges, apparently the New Jersey native schemed to reimburse attendees of an Obama campaign fundraiser for $40,000 using foreign investment for ticket costs. In addition, authorities accused him of threatening those who would report such a plot to officials. Not only that, but he also allegedly helped Malaysian billionaire Jho Low through a secret lobbying campaign. This was to pressure U.S. justice and White House officials into dismissing the existing fraud scheme.

Pras Michel’s Trial For Conspiracy Begins Jury Selection Process

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 13: Pras is seen on December 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by SMXRF/Star Max/GC Images)

Also, the court accused him of aiding the Chinese government “secure the return” of a dissident residing in the States and developing close ties to Steve Bannon and the Trump administration. Since Low is reportedly living in China as a fugitive, the 50-year-old MC faces these charges alone. According to his legal team, Pras acted in good faith and in the interests of the U.S. when meeting with a Chinese minister in 2017. While federal authorities reportedly offered Pras a plea deal, he then rejected it and went on to plead not guilty to these crimes.

“Defendant continues to deny he was acting as an agent for China and denies he willfully and knowingly acted as a secret agent under the direction and control of China when he approached the FBI,” defense lawyers stated this month in court documents. Meanwhile, if convicted on all charges, Michel could land in prison for 22 years. For the latest updates on Pras and his legal case, check back in with HNHH.

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Lil Mosey Celebrates His Freedom With New Single, “Flu Game”

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After being acquitted of his recent rape charges, Lil Mosey is gracing the scene with more music. With his newfound freedom, the Washington-born entertainer is gearing himself back up for a major return by dropping his newest single, “Flu Game.” Not only is Mosey dodging a prison sentence, but he now gets a chance to redeem his honor in the public eye. The clearing of all charges on March 2nd allowed him to feel confident in dropping his latest track on March 17th.

The highly anticipated song was paired with the release of a music video. In it, Lil Mosey dons a stylish outfit akin to the one Micheal Jordan in his famous 1997 final’s game. The young artist draws lyrical parallels between his struggles with proving his innocence and Jordan’s poor health at the time. Through his heartfelt lyrics, Mosey sings, “Tryna ball like Michael Jordan (Jordan)/ Look at my left wrist, it’s gorgeous (Gorgeous)/ Livin’ the life that I wanted (Wanted)/ .”

Lil Mosey Draws Parallels Between His & Michael Jordan’s Struggles

Throughout his verses, Lil Mosey reflects on the feeling of being trapped in his situation. “They love watchin’ you fall/ And they gon’ try to knock you,” he laments. “When you’re back against the wall (Against the wall).” The verse perfectly encapsulates the feeling of not being able to win. But the track also reflects his feelings of rising above the darkness. He makes a not-so-subtle hint in his last verse, “Winnin’ any case a good feeling.” New listeners might overlook the lyric at first. However, fans of Mosey are definitely going to spot the reference right away.

Lil Mosey teams up with producers SephGotTheWaves, Geo Vocals, and ISM to ensure the song’s excellence. As he spent the last couple of years struggling through a storm, he wanted the best team possible. In his latest Instagram post, he captions a snippet of the video with, “This for my fans, this for the culture!” While he was facing prosecution, Mosey’s biggest fans consistently voiced their support. The artist returns the favor in the best way he can, by continuing to put out great music. Stay tuned to learn more about his upcoming music.

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Young Thug Court Photo Surfaces Following Metro Boomin’s Update

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After a photo of Young Thug flexing behind bars appeared online, another image of the rapper surfaced. Thugger has been at legal war with prosecutors claiming he is a street gang leader. He was arrested last May in connection to the RICO case against YSL, as authorities claim the record label is a criminal organization. Thug’s supporters have insisted he is a respectable figure who has helped other creatives succeed. However, he faced several charges connected to drugs, weapons, and racketeering.

The jury selection process has been daunting. It has continued for months; according to reports, there isn’t an end in sight for some time. It could be the summer, if not even later this year, before the trial begins. Several of Young Thug’s alleged associates have already taken plea deals, including Gunna. He was the first to cop to an Alford plea, and in court, he made admissions that had many labeling him as a snitch.

Young Thug’s Sister Gave An Update

According to Thug’s sister Dolly White, the Trap artist is doing well, all things considered. She also said he told her he would be home soon, although there are some who aren’t so enthusiastic. Additionally, there have been several conversations about Thug’s relationship with Gunna. The latter has kept a low profile since leaving jail in December, and his peers speculated about Gunna’s next move.

Some theorize that to move forward with his Rap career, Young Thug must speak up on behalf of Gunna. Recently, DJ Akademiks hopped on Twitch to speculate about the “Pushin P” rapper’s future. He claimed Gunna already had an album ready for release but is questioning whether he should stay with YSL or move to another label. The validity of those rumors is questionable, but the gossip spread like wildfire.

Metro Boomin Talked To Thugger

Days ago, Metro Boomin revealed he’s spoken with Young Thug while on DJ Drama’s The Streetz Iz Watching podcast. “I be talking to him, he’s blessed man,” Metro said. “Anybody know Slime know he got a heart of gold, but he got the heart of a warrior at the same time. So, like, he got his head up. And I pray for him every single day, even since everything first happened. I pray for him every single day.”

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