S. Samuel
Southern rapper Plies has avoided serving any jail time and paying out settlements after being sued for his role in a 2006 Florida shooting.
According to reports, a civil suit filed against Plies and his brother Big Gates was tossed out on Friday (July 16).
Judge Robert Roundtree dismissed five men’s civil lawsuit against the rapper and the label, during which both lawyers agreed that Plies did not fire the shots at a Gainesville, Florida concert featuring Plies and Lil’ Boosie. The five victims of a shooting during the show contend that Plies has benefited from the incident, the source of the civil suit. “[Plies] characterizes it as if he is the principal [shooter],” explained the mens’ attorney Christopher Chestnut. “As if he is the guy, he is the gangster, he’s the thug he’s the goon, yes that’s what he is selling and that is why we are suing him.” The victims have 20 days to amend their complaint. (Hip Hop DX)
The suit was initially filed against Plies last March.
Five victims of a 2006 Gainesville nightclub shooting have sued Tampa rapper Plies and the record label he formed. The lawsuit, filed in Alachua County Circuit Court Wednesday, claims they have increased gangsta rap credibility and profited from the victims’ suffering. Plies’ entourage allegedly shot in the club after a scuffle with another rapper. Plies was arrested after weapons were allegedly found in his car. The victims didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries. (Miami Herald)
The rapper also avoided jail time after pleading no contest in 2006.
Plies pleaded no contest to illegal possession of concealed weapon and served no prison time after the club shootings. Levatte served three years in prison after pleading no contest to weapons charges. Two other members of the Plies entourage, who were not named in the civil suit, also served prison time on charges related to the Gainesville club shooting. The plaintiffs’ lawyers say the rapper makes references to the shooting in his lyrics and has generally used it to promote his street cred. (Associated Press)
Plies’ brother was arrested shortly after the incident took place.
Gates has been serving time in Florida due to his alleged involvement with a shooting incident at a 2006 Plies and Lil Boosie show in Gainesville, Florida. He was charged with six counts of attempted murder. Firearms were found in the vehicle he was driving, which was registered in his name and he was a convicted felon already. According to Gates, after being confronted with 90 witnesses the state planned to call at his trial, he took a plea agreement of 3 years and although he has now been released, still will remain “heavily monitored” for several months. (Keep It Trill)
Check out some recent Plies footage below:
