According to the Los Angeles times, federal authorities served grand jury subpoenas at Vivendi Universal’s New York offices this week. The agents were seeking records related to royalties, invoices and other information, in an attempt to find financial ties between Murder Inc.’s Irv Gotti and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a convicted Queens, New York drug dealer. Gotti allegedly provided artists from Murder Inc., including Ja-Rule, to appear for free in the film McGriff produced, "Crime Partners 2000." Gotti also allegedly secured a $500,000 advance from Island Def Jam to help finish the soundtrack. "The government has been contacted by individuals involved in the film and soundtrack who can provide documentation to prove that Mr. Lorenzo’s (Gotti) business was started with legitimate funds," McGriff’s attorney Robert Simels said. "If the government wants to call Island Def Jam or Vivendi Universal a corrupt organization, I would like to see how they intend to back that up." Vivendi reps had no comments.
According to the Los Angeles times, federal authorities
served grand jury subpoenas at Vivendi Universal’s New York offices this week.
The agents were seeking records related to royalties,
invoices and other information, in an attempt to find financial ties between
Murder Inc.’s Irv Gotti and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a convicted
Queens, New York drug dealer.
Gotti allegedly provided artists from Murder
Inc., including Ja-Rule, to appear for free in the film McGriff produced, "Crime
Partners 2000." Gotti also allegedly secured a $500,000 advance from Island
Def Jam to help finish the soundtrack.
"The government has been contacted by individuals
involved in the film and soundtrack who can provide documentation to prove that
Mr. Lorenzo’s (Gotti) business was started with legitimate funds," McGriff’s
attorney Robert Simels said.
"If the government wants to call Island
Def Jam or Vivendi Universal a corrupt organization, I would like to see how
they intend to back that up."
Vivendi reps had no comments.
