S. Samuel
Grammy-winning producer/rapper Wyclef Jean is making headlines with reports claiming he may have received drug money from incarcerated music executive Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond in the past.
Although it is unclear whether Jean realized where the money came from, reports claim Rosemond willingly provided him with drug funds.
But during the trial, prosecutors introduced an October 13, 2011 Proffer Agreement, where Rosemond met with authorities in hopes of ultimately reaching a Cooperation Agreement with prosecutors. During the session on October 13, Rosemond admitted to a number of illegal activities. He admitted that 80 to 90 percent of his income was funded by drug money, and that he laundered the cocaine money through a variety of means. He also admitted that he gave Wyclef Jean $60,000 in cash from drug proceeds as a loan, without Wyclef’s knowledge. The government also said they began investigating Rosemond and Wyclef’s business dealings, after Rosemond received over $800,000 in checks associated companies controlled by Wyclef Jean and his tour manager. (All Hip Hop)
The trial of Jimmy Henchman officially kicked off last week in New York City.
Mr. Rosemond’s lawyer, Gerald L. Shargel, said in his opening statement that his client was nothing more than “a perfect scapegoat for accusation.” “James Rosemond never touched a kilo of cocaine,” Mr. Shargel said. “He is not that kingpin that the government says he was.” On Monday afternoon, Carlos Giraldo, a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, testified that he used UPS shipping labels in August 2009 to track down several kilograms of cocaine believed to be connected to Mr. Rosemond’s organization. Some of the packages, he said, were wrapped in plastic bags covered in “dressing.” Court documents identified the substance as mustard, used to camouflage the contraband from drug-sniffing dogs. As a prosecutor, Soumya Dayananda, showed the jury the cocaine that Mr. Giraldo seized — some of it in plastic bags the size of five-pound packages of rice — Mr. Rosemond rocked in his chair with his hands clasped together touching his lips. (New York Times)
In September 2011, reports emerged claiming he was also hit with more federal charges.
Federal prosecutors in New York unveiled new and potentially damaging charges against hip hop talent agent James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond, indicting him for allegedly possessing a sub-machine gun and silencer. Rosemond already faces drug trafficking charges that were announced in June, but the new allegations come in an expanded superseding indictment that includes the weapons violations. “It adds several gun charges,” Assistant US Attorney Todd Kaminsky told a federal judge today, referring to the new indictment. Brooklyn federal prosecutors are accusing the music impresario of illegally possessing a Mac-11 sub-machine gun and a Ruger 9mmm semi-automatic pistol. (New York Post)
Prior to Interscope’s denial, the iconic record label had links to Jimmy Henchman in a cocaine operation.
Federal officials say these are findings from a year-long Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, the same investigation that led to the indictment of Czar Entertainment CEO and Game manager James Rosemond on 18 felony charges that could result in having him sentenced to life in prison. TSG further reports that while its unclear how the players in the narcotics ring had access to Interscope’s offices, the Game records on the label and his road manager has been named in the trafficking plot. Rosemond is currently being held without bail in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan. (XXL Mag)
Check out Game speaking on Jimmy Henchman below:
