Rapper 50 Cent and Manager Chris Lighty Under Investigation in Connection with Murder and Racketeering
NEW YORK-(10/17) In light of the recent federal gun charges with well known rapper TI whose real name is Clifford Harris; police have decided to re-open investigations on other entertainers with pending violations. 
According to a source close to source close to the investigation, beleaguered rap star 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) and his longtime advisor Christ Lighty, CEO of Violator Management and Brand Asset Marketing, are the target of an inquiry by FBI and NYPD homicide detectives who believe that the recording artist and his manager may be aiding and abetting a key person of interest in the murder of Israel Ramirez who was gunned down in Brooklyn during a dispute at a music video shoot in February of last year. They are also suspected of having coerced potential witnesses not to cooperate in an attempt to cover up for the probable suspect who authorities believe was on the payroll of Violator Management at the time of the shooting. It has been insinuated that the alleged assailant is a hired thug working for Violator artist Tony Yayo (Marvin Bernard) who was recently indicted for assaulting the 14 year old son of James Rosemond, one of Chris Lighty’s business rivals-purportedly for wearing his dad’s company t-shirt (Czar Entertainment) while walking past the Violator headquarters, which are less than a block away from his father’s office in Manhattan’s Chelsea District. It is alleged that Bernard’s bodyguard was present during the assault where he pulled a gun on the teenager and that he may also be the triggerman in a shooting that occurred in front of WQHT FM (Hot 97) during an argument between Jackson and another rapper. Bernard’s gunman and bodyguard, Robert (Dead Eye) Baley was recently taken into custody due to a multi-million dollar drug sweep in New York City. Since the incident, police have posted security cameras directly in front of the entrance to the building that houses Light’s Violator Management and Brand Asset Marketing at 36 W. 25 Street. Once known as a professional place of employment, the building is now a magnet for gunfire and drive-by shootings since the company moved into the facility. Ironically, Ramirez was the bodyguard of Violator artist Busta Rhymes (Trevor Smith). It has also been rumored that sources believe the murder was fueled by involvement of persons from within the organization. Both Smith and Lighty have refused to cooperate with investigators since the slaying of Ramirez last year. The tragedy fueled an entire “STOP SNITCHING” movement that has most recently been shunned by hip hop leaders such as FunkMaster Flex who have called attention to senseless killings in the hip hop community and have demanded a call to action.
According to reports, the killing of Ramirez last February was sparked by an argument between Bernard and a rival producer. Though Smith initially said that he was inside at the time of the shooting, police believe he was outside, near the murder scene. Bernard’s lawyer said that his client has not and will not speak to police about the incident. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has threatened to call a grand jury investigation and force witnesses to testify.
