According to sources, Murder Inc mogul Irv “Gotti” Lorenzo, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, and Ja Rule’s manager Ron “Gutta” Robinson will be arrested shortly for allegedly laundering millions of dollars in illegal drug money.
Federal agents will definitely make arrests this week, the source stated, but didn’t indicate when nor the exact charges that would be levied. This alleged plan does not include rapper Ja Rule or singer Ashanti, sources with AllHipHop.com said.
The federal government will reportedly persecute the Hip-Hop mogul and his cohorts under the RICO Act (The Racketeering In Corrupt Organization Act), usually reserved for organized crime outfits.
In Jan. 2003, the government raided the Manhattan offices of Murder Inc. seeking to solidify their investigation. Agents where probing whether or not Gotti helped Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff in laundering funds from drug sales through his successful record label.
Lorezno and those that support him have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, but maintained that McGriff was an associate that no longer sells drugs. Gotti also alleges that his start-up funds were derived from distributor Def Jam, not drugs.
Despite his claims, the government has tightened its case against the mogul and his associates.
Ron “Gutta” Robinson of Murder Inc. was arrested and indicted on money laundering on Nov. 17, 2004 by federal prosecutors. They charged that the 29 year old conspired with others to transfer over $1 million through the label. Murder Inc. Prior to that, bookkeeper Cynthia Brent, 39, was arrested and indicted on Nov. 8, 2004 on similar charges.
Later in 2003, Gotti attempted to shed the negativity surrounding him by changing the name of his label Murder Inc. to The Inc. At a press conference, he also denounced the name Gotti, saying he would use his real name Irv Lorenzo.
At press time, representatives for Irv Gotti and The Inc were not available or refused request for comment.