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On June 5, 2012, Rosemond was convicted in ] in Brooklyn of drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, firearms violations and other financial crimes associated with his position as head of a multi-million-dollar transnational cocaine-selling organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schwirtz|first=Michael|title=Rap Music Figure Convicted of Running Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Ring|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/nyregion/james-rosemond-convicted-of-running-multimillion-dollar-drug-ring.html?_r=1&src=twrhp|work=N.Y./Region|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=5 June 2012}}</ref> At trial, it was alleged that Rosemond led the large scale, bi-coastal narcotics-trafficking organization that transported cocaine from ], ] to the ]. The group, known known as the "Rosemond Organization," in turn shipped cash proceeds from the narcotics sales back to Los Angeles using a variety of methods as part of its operation. Millions of dollars in cash and narcotics were sent through ] and ], often covered in ] to avoid discovery by ]s.<ref name="justice.gov">http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2013/2013oct25.html</ref> In the indictment, prosecutors noted that Rosemond made over $11 million a year since 2007 through his drug trafficking scheme.<ref name="xxlmag1"/><ref name="NY times 1">{{cite news|last=Nate|first=Schweeber|title=Drug Trial Starts for Figure Prominent in Rap World|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/james-rosemond-begins-trial-on-drug-charges.html|accessdate=8 September 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref> On June 5, 2012, Rosemond was convicted in ] in Brooklyn of drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, firearms violations and other financial crimes associated with his position as head of a multi-million-dollar transnational cocaine-selling organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schwirtz|first=Michael|title=Rap Music Figure Convicted of Running Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Ring|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/nyregion/james-rosemond-convicted-of-running-multimillion-dollar-drug-ring.html?_r=1&src=twrhp|work=N.Y./Region|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=5 June 2012}}</ref> At trial, it was alleged that Rosemond led the large scale, bi-coastal narcotics-trafficking organization that transported cocaine from ], ] to the ]. The group, known known as the "Rosemond Organization," in turn shipped cash proceeds from the narcotics sales back to Los Angeles using a variety of methods as part of its operation. Millions of dollars in cash and narcotics were sent through ] and ], often covered in ] to avoid discovery by ]s.<ref name="justice.gov">http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2013/2013oct25.html</ref> In the indictment, prosecutors noted that Rosemond made over $11 million a year since 2007 through his drug trafficking scheme.<ref name="xxlmag1"/><ref name="NY times 1">{{cite news|last=Nate|first=Schweeber|title=Drug Trial Starts for Figure Prominent in Rap World|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/james-rosemond-begins-trial-on-drug-charges.html|accessdate=8 September 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref>


On October 25, 2013, Rosemond was sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref name="newsday1"/><ref name="abcnews1"/><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/nyregion/hip-hop-mogul-gets-life-sentence-for-drug-ring.html|title=Hip-Hop Figure Gets Life Sentence for Drug Ring|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=2013-10-27}}</ref> As part of his sentence, Rosemond forfeited approximately $14 million in cash and property.<ref name="justice.gov"/> ] ] said that Rosemond's carefully crafted image as a music mogul was in reality "a cover for the real Jimmy Rosemond - a thug in a suit."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> ] ] remarked that he would have sentenced Rosemond to life even if it weren't legally required as his crimes were "astonishing in their breadth, duration and intensity." <ref name="nytimes.com"/> On October 25, 2013, Rosemond was sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref name="newsday1"/><ref name="abcnews1"/><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/nyregion/hip-hop-mogul-gets-life-sentence-for-drug-ring.html|title=Hip-Hop Figure Gets Life Sentence for Drug Ring|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=2013-10-27}}</ref> <ref name="Jimmy Henchman review"/> As part of his sentence, Rosemond forfeited approximately $14 million in cash and property.<ref name="justice.gov"/> ] ] said that Rosemond's carefully crafted image as a music mogul was in reality "a cover for the real Jimmy Rosemond - a thug in a suit."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> ] ] remarked that he would have sentenced Rosemond to life even if it weren't legally required as his crimes were "astonishing in their breadth, duration and intensity." <ref name="nytimes.com"/>


===Federal informant=== ===Federal informant===

Revision as of 01:58, 6 January 2014

James Rosemond
BornJames Rosemond
(1965-02-05) February 5, 1965 (age 59)
Other namesJames Rosemond, Jimmy the Henchman, Jimmy Henchman, Jimmy Ace, Tony Townsend, James Rosemound
Criminal statusIncarcerated
ChildrenJames Rosemond, Jr.
Conviction(s)June 5, 2012
Criminal chargeDrug trafficking, money laundering, structuring, obstruction of justice and possessing and using firearms
PenaltyLife imprisonment

James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond (born February 5, 1965) is a former American businessman and convicted drug trafficker.

Early life and education

James J. Rosemond was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 5, 1965. Rosemond is the second of five children born to Andrea Frazier Rosemond, a nursing assistant, and Constantine Rosemond, a carpenter. Rosemond was raised by both parents until 1975, when they divorced and his father moved from Brooklyn to Miami, Florida. Rosemond's mother continued to raise him and his siblings in Brooklyn.

One of Rosemond's brothers, Kesner, was sentenced in 2011 to 12 years in prison for drug trafficking. Rosemond's other siblings are Lionel of Brooklyn and Mario of New Brunswick, New Jersey. His sister Nadge is deceased.

Entertainment career

He was the CEO of Czar Entertainment, a rap music management company that, at one time, managed The Game, Sean Kingston, Brandy, Gucci Mane, Salt-n-Pepa and Akon. He was a well-known figure in the hip hop music industry, described in a 2012 The New York Times article as "a prince at the royal court, whose ties to rap music’s biggest stars were known far and wide." Rosemond was behind Salt-n-Pepa's "Shoop."

Crimes

On August 16, 1981, Rosemond was charged with Robbery.

On March 20, 1983, Rosemond was arrested in Brooklyn for criminal possession of a firearm.

On June 26, 1983 in Brooklyn, Rosemond was charged with Murder in the Second degree, robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

On September 24, 1984, Rosemond pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

In 1996, Rosemond was incarcerated in a North Carolina correctional facility. While there, he provided information about his fellow prisoners.

On February 17, 1996, Rosemond was charged with possession of a firearm in Los Angeles.

On January 13, 1997, Rosemond was sentenced on the charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Murder for hire arrest

Rosemond has a son with Cynthia Reed, James Rosemond, Jr. Rosemond’s son, James Rosemond Jr., was assaulted by Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher and associates of a rival rap music management company, including Tony Yayo. G-Unit's Tony Yayo was arrested in March 2007 for slapping James Jr.

In retaliation, Rosemond is alleged to have arranged to have Fletcher shot. Fletcher was killed in the Bronx on September 27, 2009.

In February 2012, Rosemond was arrested for 2009 murder-for-hire death of Lowell Fletcher. Rosemond is alleged to have arranged a murder as payback for the 2007 assault on his son.

The Manhattan U.S. Attorney charged Rosemond with the murder of Lowell Fletcher on June 22, 2012.

As of October 2013, Rosemond is awaiting trial on these charges in Manhattan. He is expected to go to trial on murder-for-hire charges in 2014.

Drug trafficking, money laundering and witness tampering convictions

In May 2012, he went on trial, represented by Gerald Shargel, on charges of cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and witness tampering.

Rosemond sought to reach a Cooperating Plea Agreement. In October, Rosemond admitted to drug trafficking. However, while he was in jail, Rosemond was found in possession of a working cell phone and was found to have exchanged text message with his brother Mario, a fugitive, so the plea offer was taken back by the prosecution. Shargel said at trial that Rosemond was framed.

On June 5, 2012, Rosemond was convicted in Federal District Court in Brooklyn of drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, firearms violations and other financial crimes associated with his position as head of a multi-million-dollar transnational cocaine-selling organization. At trial, it was alleged that Rosemond led the large scale, bi-coastal narcotics-trafficking organization that transported cocaine from Los Angeles, California to the New York metropolitan area. The group, known known as the "Rosemond Organization," in turn shipped cash proceeds from the narcotics sales back to Los Angeles using a variety of methods as part of its operation. Millions of dollars in cash and narcotics were sent through Federal Express and United Parcel Service, often covered in mustard to avoid discovery by detection dogs. In the indictment, prosecutors noted that Rosemond made over $11 million a year since 2007 through his drug trafficking scheme.

On October 25, 2013, Rosemond was sentenced to life imprisonment. As part of his sentence, Rosemond forfeited approximately $14 million in cash and property. United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta E. Lynch said that Rosemond's carefully crafted image as a music mogul was in reality "a cover for the real Jimmy Rosemond - a thug in a suit." United States federal judge John Gleeson remarked that he would have sentenced Rosemond to life even if it weren't legally required as his crimes were "astonishing in their breadth, duration and intensity."

Federal informant

A 2010 New York Daily News article by Alison Gendar shocked the hip-hop world when she provided government documents showing that Henchman, head of the hip-hop anti-snitch movement, was himself a federal informant. The Daily News article quoted investigators as saying "Rosemond dishes when it suits him, yet makes a fortune off artists ... who titled a 2005 album "Stop Snitchin/Stop Lyin."

But it was not Rosemond's role as a federal informant or even his drug conviction that made him notorious in the rap world, but his long rumored involvement in the attack that set off the East Coast – West Coast and rap wars. As The New York Times said "For years, he has denied allegations that he was involved in a feud that led to the murders of the rappers Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, known as Biggie Smalls." A 2008 article by Chuck Philips was a detailed implication of Rosemond in the attack of Tupac at the Quad which set off the East Coast-West Coast rap wars.

Tupac Shakur attack

The 2008 LA Times article by Chuck Philips implicating Henchman in the 1994 attack of Tupac Shakur at the Quad said that Henchman ordered three thugs to ambush Tupac. The article was retracted by the LA Times when they and Philips learned that they had mistakenly included (among many uncontroverted sources) filed FBI 302s which turned out to be forged but corroborated in 2011 when Dexter Isaac confessed to attacking Tupac on Henchman's orders. Following Isaac’s public confession, Chuck Philips confirmed Isaac as one (among five) of his key unnamed sources. The 2008 Philips article was entered into evidence as People's exhibit number 1 against Henchman in his trial on which Henchman was convicted on all 13 counts.

Henchman admitted to setting up Tupac's ambush during one of nine "Queen For A Day" proffer sessions with the government in autumn of 2011, according to prosecutors. The original prosecutor transcripts are available in Village Voice author Chuck Philips' article. The confession was also picked up by the Huffington Post among many other newspapers.

Tupac himself blamed Henchman in a song about the ambush at the Quad called "Against All Odds"; Tupac rapped:

Jimmy Henchman,...
Set me up, wet me up,...stuck me up
Heard the guns bust but you tricks never shut me up

— Tupac Shakur, Against All Odds

Personal life

Rosemond has a son with Cynthia Reed of Staten Island, James Jabulani Rosemond, Jr. (born May 28, 1992).

References

  1. ^ "Former Hip-Hop Manager James Rosemond, also known as "Jimmy Henchman", Convicted of Leading a Continuing Criminal Enterprise" (PDF). Justice.gov. Retrieved 2013-102-7. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "James Rosemond, hip-hop's "Jimmy Henchman," gets life". Newsday.com. 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  3. "Tupac slay suspect Jimmy Rosemond gets life in prison for drug trafficking". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  4. "Rap Music Figure Convicted of Running Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Ring". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  5. "Rap promoter gets life in prison in NYC drug case - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  6. ^ "United States of America vs. James J. Rosemond" (PDF). Api.ning.com. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  7. USA v. Rosemond (2:98-cr-00550-DT), Filing #3, Case Summary (C.D. Cal. 6 March 2000), Text.
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  10. "James Rosemond, Rap Music Manager/Cocaine Trafficker, Sentenced To Life In Federal Prison". The Smoking Gun. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  11. Algar, Selim. "Tupac shooting 'suspect' gets life for drug ring | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
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  15. SPIN Media LLC (December 2006). SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. p. 85. ISSN 0886-3032.
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  34. Nate, Schweeber (May 14, 2012). "Drug Trial Starts for Figure Prominent in Rap World". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2012. Prosecutors say James Rosemond is a drug kingpin, and he went on trial Monday in federal court in Brooklyn on charges that he led a criminal enterprise that sold millions of dollars worth of cocaine, laundered money and tampered with witnesses.
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  43. ^ (Court case exhibit: USA vs James Rosemond Case # 1:11-Cr-00424 5/14/2012 Document # 100, exhibit 1)
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External links

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