Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/04/1510:25 AM
Wu-Tang Clan Was Investigated by FBI in Two 1999 Murders ARTICLESLEGAL AND MANAGEMENTTHE JUICENEWS By Colin Stutz | November 03, 2015 9:15 PM EST
Bob Berg/Getty Images
Members of the Wu-Tang Clan were investigated for allegedly ordering two men's murders in 1999, according to recently released documents.
The allegations come from a federal trial of two Staten Island drug kingpins, brothers Anthony and Harvey Christian, stating that two men may have been murdered because they robbed Wu-Tang founding members RZA and Raekwon's family members. Last October, the Christian brothers were found guilty of running a major drug-dealing operation for 20 years and Anthony Christian was also found guilty of orchestrating a 1999.
With sentencing against the drug lords on its way, Anthony Christian's lawyer Michael Gold has requested "all police files" about the Wu-Tang Clan's alleged involvement in the murder of 17-year-old Jerome (Boo Boo) Estella, as well as those of a second man named Corey (Shank Bank) Brooker. He contends that information in Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard's FBI file alleges the murder was pulled off "at the instruction of members of the Wu-Tang Clan." Ol' Dirty Bastard's FBI file was released in a heavily-redacted form in 2012.
"These reports seem to suggest someone else was liable for those murders. I'm not suggesting that Wu-Tang committed these crimes. The FBI did," Gold told the Staten Island Advance. "What I'm trying to ascertain is their stated belief in an official file that Wu-Tang ordered this homicide."
In response, the federal prosecutors issued a filing last month describing what information they had sent in the trial's discovery process, noting RZA and Raekwon's possible role in the killings. They stated Gold already had all reverent information prior to the trial and that none of it provided evidence that might exonerate his client.
The prosecutor's information was based on 1999 interviews with Brian Humphreys, a Bloods gang member who later turned federal informant, who was the gunman in Estella's killing and testified against the kingpin Christian brothers.
"A couple of weeks before the Boo Boo [Estella］shooting, Uncles (the street name of drug supplier-turned-informant Paul Ford) told Humphreys about a Blood named Boo Boo who just came home from jail," the filing reads. "He stated that Boo Boo had robbed RZA's little brother and had also gotten into something with the Christian brothers."
It continues, "Uncles was talking about Boo Boo and said that he had just come home and robbed RZA's brother and that they would likely come after him for that. Humphreys believes Uncles was referring to members of Wu Tang."
The prosecutors' documents also mention conversations involving the drug supplier-turned-informant Ford, Bloods-member-turned informant Humphreys and kingpin Anthony Christian about Brooker who was shot to death on June 22, 1999.
Ford claimed Brooker had robbed RZA's brother and Raekwon's cousin, prompting RZA to issue a $30,000 contract for Brooker's murder, according to the documents.
The filing reads, "Ford stated that he had previously heard that Shank Bank [Brooker］was killed by Phife (ph). Ford believes that Phife collected money from RZA for executing the hit." There is no explanation of to whom the name "Phife" refers.
Prosecutors contend they that Estella's robbing RZA's brother would have reinforced Anthony Christian's desire to organize his killing, since such robberies were bad for the drug trade.
Anthony and Harvey Christian were arrested in 2011. Anthony Christian faces a mandatory life sentence; Harvey Christian faces 40 years to life in federal prison.
Read the federal prosecutor's court filing and the 2012 release of Ol' Dirty Bastard's FBI file here.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/04/1508:58 PM
Originally Posted By: dixiemafia
I was just listening to some C.R.E.A.M. the other day too.
Whole album is classic! Wu-Tang and Cypress Hill were always my favorite hip hop bands. Hip hop from that era always had that rebel attitude and especially Wu-Tang displayed a sense of originality that always resonated well with Metal fans like me.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/05/1508:38 AM
Originally Posted By: TheKillingJoke
Originally Posted By: dixiemafia
I was just listening to some C.R.E.A.M. the other day too.
Whole album is classic! Wu-Tang and Cypress Hill were always my favorite hip hop bands. Hip hop from that era always had that rebel attitude and especially Wu-Tang displayed a sense of originality that always resonated well with Metal fans like me.
Yes it is. I was a big fan of both too. Cypress Hill's first album was my favorite. UGK was probably my favorite from that era and is probably still my favorite rap group though. I guess being a kid from the South I connected to it more than the others. I remember we would buy bootleg cassettes at the local flea market, of course at 11 or 12 you don't know what a "bootleg tape" was Then when I hit 15 I think it was, was when they started checking ID's on explicit tapes. So I had to wait a year to legally buy them so we definitely hit the flea market for bootlegs.
My favorite Wu-Tang line: "diversify your bonds" off of Chappelle's Show
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/05/1504:24 PM
Originally Posted By: dixiemafia
Originally Posted By: TheKillingJoke
Originally Posted By: dixiemafia
I was just listening to some C.R.E.A.M. the other day too.
Whole album is classic! Wu-Tang and Cypress Hill were always my favorite hip hop bands. Hip hop from that era always had that rebel attitude and especially Wu-Tang displayed a sense of originality that always resonated well with Metal fans like me.
Yes it is. I was a big fan of both too. Cypress Hill's first album was my favorite. UGK was probably my favorite from that era and is probably still my favorite rap group though. I guess being a kid from the South I connected to it more than the others. I remember we would buy bootleg cassettes at the local flea market, of course at 11 or 12 you don't know what a "bootleg tape" was Then when I hit 15 I think it was, was when they started checking ID's on explicit tapes. So I had to wait a year to legally buy them so we definitely hit the flea market for bootlegs.
My favorite Wu-Tang line: "diversify your bonds nigga" off of Chappelle's Show
LMAO yeah, Wu-Tang Financial
For some reason the Southern rap crews of that era never found some cross over into Europe. When people in Europe think of "Southern rap", they mostly think of those Atlanta-based crunk bands. Personally I don't really like that stuff. It's a bit one ear in, out the other.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/08/1504:15 PM
Originally Posted By: DanteMoltisanti
Wu-Tang was "associated" with the Gambinos. Its been documented by the FBI. They even made a song called "Wu-Gambinos".
That is most likely false. The FBI has never documented that. When RZA endorsed hillary clinton for president i think back in 2008 fox news basically tried to use that against her which is where that rumour basically gained. They just use alot of mob terminology in their music but then again they use alot of kung fu references too.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/08/1505:30 PM
Originally Posted By: DanteMoltisanti
Wu-Tang was "associated" with the Gambinos. Its been documented by the FBI. They even made a song called "Wu-Gambinos".
Has it ever been mentioned on this site about what specific involvement Biggie Smalls had with the Westside? Im pretty sure the FBI has stated for a fact that he did have some connection with the family.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/08/1506:55 PM
again thats probably also false info based on either a rapper named genovese that was hanging around bad boy. Or a pathological liar and con man james sabatino who was going around posing as a music executive and scamming hotels. He was also telling people that his dad was a member of the colombo crime family which turned out to be false. The guy is very disturbed. The gangsters with documented ties to bad boy records and associates are hatian jack, jimmy rosemond, eric martin, southside compton crips and BMF.
The only documented mob connection to wu tang is fbi informant michael caruso who was an ectasy dealer and associate of chris paciello. He flipped on some nightclub owner and some mobsters and then somehow got a job managing some of the wu tang clan.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/09/1512:40 AM
NEWS 2 MEN STABBED DURING PARTY AT NEW JERSEY HOME OF RAPPER RZA
Sunday, November 08, 2015 02:56PM MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Two men were hospitalized with stab wounds following an argument at a party at the New Jersey home of rapper RZA.
Authorities say the stabbing happened early Saturday in Millstone Township. Police did not identify the homeowner, but public records show it is the residence of the Wu-Tang Clan founder, whose real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs. The rapper performed at a festival in Texas on Saturday night.
It's not clear if either of the injured men were involved in the dispute or if they were innocent bystanders. Both were hospitalized but authorities said their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Messages left with representatives for RZA by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/09/1504:10 PM
Part of what led to the end of the Chappelle Show is evident here. Dave started feeling conflicted about the type of humor/language he was using and felt that some in the audience were laughing AT him instead of WITH him.
I've heard certain words used in films and particularly gangster films, and it's never led me to use those words in conversations.That's just me,though.Even if I was the type of person to use those words in real life, I'd have the common courtesy not to use them in public forums where I might offend someone, but again that's just me.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/09/1504:55 PM
Originally Posted By: mightyhealthy
Not buying this one.
What exactly is there not to buy? As old as they are, this is from the late 90's, where Wu-Tang, as a rap group were still popular. But keep in mind these guys grew up in the streets, and have always been known to have connections with various criminals and some crime groups, even going as far as being considered on themselves. But the point is, these guys don't have to be the kingpins to have things like this done for them. As long as that connection back to the real hitters in the street is there, these things are always possible. However I doubt RZA is dragged into this and is actually penalized for it.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/10/1502:36 AM
anyone hear about the shooting/murder this morning at the mcdonalds near penn station in manhattan? don't know what its related to but my brother is staying a block away from where it happened right now. said he heard the shots early this morning.. guess 3 guys got shot.. 1 died I think.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/10/1503:47 AM
Originally Posted By: SinatraClub
Originally Posted By: mightyhealthy
Not buying this one.
What exactly is there not to buy? As old as they are, this is from the late 90's, where Wu-Tang, as a rap group were still popular. But keep in mind these guys grew up in the streets, and have always been known to have connections with various criminals and some crime groups, even going as far as being considered on themselves. But the point is, these guys don't have to be the kingpins to have things like this done for them. As long as that connection back to the real hitters in the street is there, these things are always possible. However I doubt RZA is dragged into this and is actually penalized for it.
My take on Wu-Tang has always been that there connection to OC has been financing drug packages as an investment.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/10/1503:50 AM
Originally Posted By: SinatraClub
Originally Posted By: mightyhealthy
Not buying this one.
What exactly is there not to buy? As old as they are, this is from the late 90's, where Wu-Tang, as a rap group were still popular. But keep in mind these guys grew up in the streets, and have always been known to have connections with various criminals and some crime groups, even going as far as being considered on themselves. But the point is, these guys don't have to be the kingpins to have things like this done for them. As long as that connection back to the real hitters in the street is there, these things are always possible. However I doubt RZA is dragged into this and is actually penalized for it.
I feel like if there was any real compelling evidence, the FBI would have loved to nail these guys.
Sounds like a drug dealer trying to blame it on a high profile rap star, to me.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 11/10/1503:51 AM
Originally Posted By: NE1020
Originally Posted By: SinatraClub
Originally Posted By: mightyhealthy
Not buying this one.
What exactly is there not to buy? As old as they are, this is from the late 90's, where Wu-Tang, as a rap group were still popular. But keep in mind these guys grew up in the streets, and have always been known to have connections with various criminals and some crime groups, even going as far as being considered on themselves. But the point is, these guys don't have to be the kingpins to have things like this done for them. As long as that connection back to the real hitters in the street is there, these things are always possible. However I doubt RZA is dragged into this and is actually penalized for it.
My take on Wu-Tang has always been that there connection to OC has been financing drug packages as an investment.
These guys were street level dealers, ableit successful ones. I highly doubt they were financing drug deals, especially on a large scale, after 94-95.
You guys gotta remember that the Wu was the biggest group on the planet for a few years. Why would they risk everything? More importantly, do you really think the cops would let them do that shit? Nothing the NYPD loves more than busting rappers.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 01/29/1612:20 AM
read this story and this was only thread I could add it to
soon to be white collar criminal....and real life comic book villain Martin Shkerli releases a diss video after members of the WuTang Clan publlicly distanced themselves from him. He won the auction for their last album at 2 Million bid.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 01/29/1601:09 AM
It's all love,MH.
video is going to put GFK back in the spotlight..He's been putting out quality music and touring since Wu came out.In fact he's the most consistent Wu member.
He'll benefit from this clown namechecking him in this soon to be viral video.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 01/29/1601:29 AM
You know I'm a huge Ghost guy (obviously).
At one point, he was the best and most creative rapper in the game.
But I haven't truly felt a Ghost album since Fishscale. Not saying the newest albums aren't bad, but they lack the signature creativity of a true Ghost album.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 01/29/1602:13 AM
MH,
Last Ghost album I enjoyed was Apollo Kids...that one reminded me of the Supreme Clientele era (high on angel dust) Ghost.
Went back and listened to some of his other albums and they don't quite sound like albums, but collections of songs.
He's still an interesting guy so I enjoy some of his video interviews now more than his music.His skits have been as entertaining as some of his songs.My favorite is the skit before Glaciers of Ice on the Cuban Links album
"I'm getting my Clarks done,son....all you dye...wooh, all you dye is this part,but it'll be like blue and cream"
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 01/29/1609:55 PM
MH,
I'd have the same list/order as you.
After the first Wu album, I thought ghost was garbage..but he and raekwon dropped some HEAT on mixtapes before the OBFCL album came out and THAT was the best project that Wu has done.
Back to this Shkeril character. If he had a sense of humor or of showmanship....he would have aired the end of the Glaciers of Ice video while he was talking. Rae and Ghost were getting "questioned" by some goons....dressed EXACTLY like the losers surrounding Shkeril in the video above.
It's been a long time................It's been a long time
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 07/22/1609:08 PM
Staten Island drug kingpin sentenced to life in prison; brother awaits sentencing
Frank Donnelly | fdonnelly@siadvance.com By Frank Donnelly | fdonnelly@siadvance.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on July 22, 2016 at 3:05 PM, updated July 22, 2016 at 4:16 PM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Clifton man who along with his brother trafficked in murder and violence to dominate the crack cocaine trade in the Park Hill Apartments for two decades was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
In October 2014, a jury in Brooklyn federal court convicted Anthony (Nitty) Christian, 43, of racketeering -- including the 1999 murder of Jerome Estella, 17, and three murder conspiracies -- as well as gun possession and crack cocaine trafficking, said authorities.
His brother, Harvey (Black) Christian, 44, was also convicted in the case.
Federal prosecutors said Anthony and Harvey Christian established control of the crack-dealing activities around the Park Hill Apartments in 1991 and fought to maintain their turf.
They ran the operation until their arrests in 2011, authorities said.
Using the building at 55 Bowen St. as their home base throughout their reign, they began waging war in the mid-1990s on Park Hill Avenue to win control of more buildings, prosecutors said.
They engaged in massive gun battles for months.
In 1999, Anthony Christian and Paul (Uncles) Ford sent their enforcer, Brian Humphreys, to kill rival drug dealer Corey (Shank Bank) Brooker, prosecutors said.
Brooker escaped death, but Humphreys killed Estrella, with Anthony Christian's blessing, so he wouldn't warn Brooker about the murder plot. Christian gave Humphreys the gun used to kill the victim, said prosectors.
Humphreys and Ford both testified for the prosecution at the Christian brothers' trial.
The brothers also conspired with Anthony Britt -- who also testified for the government -- in a failed 2010 bid to kill William (Buddha) Jones, and chased off and assaulted police officers who tried to make arrests on their turf, prosecutors contended.
A search of their apartment in February 2010 turned up bulletproof vests, crack cocaine and marijuana.
A gun and large quantities of crack and powder cocaine were recovered in 2011 in searches involving the siblings' confederates, said prosecutors.
At trial, the Christian brothers' lawyers argued the government's cooperating witnesses, eight in total, lied in the hope of shaving years off their own prison sentences.
Harvey Christian, who faces a minimum of 40 years in prison, awaits sentencing, said Robert L. Capers, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Diego G. Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, of the FBI New York Field Office, who jointly announced Anthony Christian's sentence.
Christian's lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 04/01/1708:46 AM
Drug kingpin gets 50 years for reign of 'mayhem and violence' in Clifton
Updated on March 31, 2017 at 7:09 PM Posted on March 31, 2017 at 3:49 PM
BY MIRA WASSEF mwassef@siadvance.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Clifton man convicted of running a violent and deadly drug enterprise in the Park Hill Apartments for two decades maintained his innocence before a judge slapped him with 50 years behind bars.
"This case was built on lies," said Harvey Christian, 44, in a statement to the judge during his sentencing Friday in Brooklyn federal court. "I felt my trial was unfair."
Christian, garbed in light green prison gear and sporting a beard, smiled and blew kisses to his family members sitting in the courtroom, but showed no emotion when U.S. District Judge Eric Vitaliano handed down his decision.
"The evidence is overwhelming," the judge said. "The reign of terror in the Park Hill community happened. [There's a] history of fear of the good people trapped in a community wrought by guns and drugs on the streets of Staten Island."
In October 2014, Harvey (Black) Christian was convicted at trial on charges of racketeering -- including two murder conspiracies, firearms possession and trafficking in crack cocaine.
His brother, Anthony (Nitty) Christian, 43, was convicted of racketeering -- including the 1999 murder of Jerome Estrella, 17, and three murder conspiracies -- as well as gun possession and crack cocaine trafficking, said authorities. He was sentenced to life last year.
Attorney Sally Butler, who represents Harvey Christian, argued against the life sentence the prosecution recommended because while he was convicted of racketeering charges, he was not charged in the murder.
"There is no reason to die in jail," she said after the hearing. "There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel."
The brothers, prosecutors said, led a violent narcotics distribution ring in Park Hill from 1991 to 2011. In the mid-1990s, the Christian brothers and their associates - including co- defendant Jason Quinn - sought to take control of more drug territory within Park Hill.
They engaged in massive gun battles for months, and in one of the battles, in May 1995, law enforcement recovered 77 shell casings inside a residential building, outside on the street, and on a rooftop, officials said.
One of the Christian brothers' associates was murdered in that battle.
"He terrorized the community of Park Hill," said U.S. Attorney Allon Lifshitz, who argued for a life sentence. "Harvey Christian picked up one of the officers and threw him down the stairs, sending him to the hospital. The mayhem and violence continued with the daily crack sales and shootings."
In 1999, Anthony Christian and Paul (Uncles) Ford sent their enforcer, Brian Humphreys, to kill rival drug dealer Corey (Shank Bank) Brooker, prosecutors said.
Brooker escaped death, but Humphreys killed Estrella, with Anthony Christian's blessing, so he wouldn't warn Brooker about the murder plot. Christian gave Humphreys the gun used to kill the victim, said prosecutors.
"They were my friends," Harvey Christian said of Estrella and Brooker in his statement to the court. "Me and my brother did not participate in these actions."
Humphreys and Ford both testified for the prosecution at the Christian brothers' trial.
The brothers also conspired with Anthony Britt -- who also testified for the government -- in a failed 2010 bid to kill William (Buddha) Jones, and chased off and assaulted police officers who tried to make arrests on their turf, prosecutors contended.
A search of their apartment in February 2010 turned up bulletproof vests, crack cocaine and marijuana.
A gun and large quantities of crack and powder cocaine were recovered in 2011 in searches involving the siblings' confederates, said prosecutors.
At trial, the Christian brothers' lawyers argued the government's cooperating witnesses, eight in total, lied in the hope of shaving years off their own prison sentences.
"They were wrongly convicted," said a woman who identified herself as the mother of Harvey Christian's child. "They were drug dealers, but everything else was a lie."
The brothers' mother, who was there with several family members, declined comment after the proceeding.
Re: Wu Tang clan brought up in staten island drug case - 04/02/1703:12 AM
thanks for the update,Scorsese.
In modern times, can't think of another crew that held power that long anywhere. A supergang maybe....but just a street crew holding down projects....or part of the projects for 20 years? and the actual leaders are free the entire time?
