Former Hip-Hop Mogul Sentenced To Life Gets New Murder-For-Hire Trial
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A federal appeals court in New York City has ordered a new murder-for-hire trial for a former hip-hop and rap promoter serving a life prison term.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court said Tuesday a judge made errors that affected the fairness of the trial of James Rosemond, known in rap circles as "Jimmy the Henchman.''
Rosemond, who had been the chief executive officer of New York-based Car Entertainment, was convicted by a Manhattan federal jury in December 2014 for his role in ordering a crew of men to kill an associate of the rap group known as G-Unit. The charges stemmed from the 2009 shooting death of Lowell Fletcher.
Prosecutors said the killing was payback for an assault on Rosemond's son. Rosemond's lawyer argued witnesses against him were unreliable.
U.S. District judge Colleen McMahon sentenced him to life in prison plus 20 years in May 2015.
Rosemond has represented artists including The Game and Sean Kingston. He was already serving a life sentence for smuggling cocaine in music equipment cases between studios in New York and Los Angeles.
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