Murder Inc. Bookkeeper Cynthia Brent was arrested and indicted Monday (November 8) on money laundering charges, as federal prosecutors continue their investigation into a connection between the rap label and drug dealers.
Brent, 39, was charged with laundering over $1 million in drug money and arranging cash deposits to evade federal filing laws, officials said.
Brent pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday and was released on $200,000 bond.
Multi-platinum rapper Ja Rule and Murder Inc. head Irv Gotti confirmed their affiliation with Queens crack kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff to the Associated Press, but dismissed the grounds of the federal investigation.
“It’s stressful, and to know that this [stuff] is bogus, you really start to think,” said Ja. “This is how they can stop these black companies from making money…put an investigation on them.”
After being released from prison years ago, McGriff hooked up with Gotti to help produce a straight-to-video film, “Crime Partners 2000” featuring Ja-Rule, Snoop Dogg and Ice-T.
Prosecutors attempted to confiscate the film proceeds last year, alleging that it was financed with drug money. Officials are attempting to link McGriff, currently in prison on gun charges, to at least one drug-related murder.
As a result of the federal case, Murder Inc., whose roster includes Charli Baltimore and platinum-selling artist Ashanti, changed its name to The Inc. earlier this year.
Ja Rule’s album R.U.L.E. is due out in stores November 9.
Credit: allhiphop.com
