Contrary to rumors
that Cash Money rapper Young Turk was recently released from prison, his camp
has confirmed that the former Hot Boys member remains incarcerated.
"Whether or not Turk
is still in jail or not is starting to become [like] the speculation of Tupac
still alive," Turk’s former publicist Phyllis Pollack of Def Press told
AllHipHop.com. "He’s still there," said Pollack, who still follows
Turk’s legal proceedings and worked publicity on the album that coincided with
his case.
Federal agents arrested
Tab "Turk" Virgil on one charge of attempted murder in January 2004.
A Memphis SWAT team reportedly broke into an apartment where Turk, 22 at the
time, had been residing while recording his third solo album Penitentiary Charges,
released last April.
Police alleged that they
were serving a search warrant for drugs. A small amount of drugs were uncovered,
but no assault weapons were found, according to reports.
Turk told investigators
he hid in a closet when police raided the apartment. The New Orleans-based rapper
also claimed that cops failed to identify themselves and began shooting while
he was in the closet.
Memphis’ Shelby County detectives
alleged that Turk shot at deputies during the drug raid.
says he did not have a gun when he was in the closet, he didn’t shoot anybody,"
said Pollack. "And from what I have been told from sources in the case,
the DNA has come back that his prints were not on the gun and they can’t legally,
with evidence, pin this gun to him at all."
According to Pollack, police
claimed there was footage of Turk shooting the cop that would be used for a
music video. "They had a spokesperson from the sheriff’s department come
out and say it on the news," said Pollack. "There is no such footage."
Turk was initially held
on two charges. Authorities alleged that Turk shot two Shelby County Sheriffs
deputies. The second charge was dropped when ballistics tests indicated that
the second officer wounded was actually shot by another officer present at the
scene.
Shelby County Judge Loyce
Lambert Ryan ruled in April 2004 that there was no sufficient evidence to charge
Turk with first degree murder and lowered the charges to second degree murder.
A federal grand jury subsequently
indicted Turk as a felon in possession of a gun due to his prior conviction
for felony heroin possession in Louisiana.
"Originally, he was
going to be let out on bail," said Pollack. "All of a sudden, there
were federal charges that came in, claiming [that] he had a weapon and it’s
a violation of parole."
As for a timetable to when
Turk will be released, an exact date was uncertain as of press time.
"It’s so absurd he’s
even still there," said Pollack. "All anybody can do is hope he can
get out of there in a timely fashion because now it’s been about a year."
Turk is currently being
held in Shelby County Jail and maintains his innocence in the shooting incident.
Turk’s lawyers have declined
to discuss the case.