Rapper Lil' Kim turned herself in to authorities in Manhattan today after she and four associates were indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges following a 2001 shooting.
The sexy star, real name Kimberly Jones, was indicted after a grand jury declared there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.
As a result, Kim is expected to appear in court later today to face charges at an arraignment hearing.
The rapper is charged with allegedly lying to investigators about her involvement in the February 2001 shooting, which left one man with gunshot wounds to his back.
When questioned by police the day after the incident, Kim claimed to have no knowledge of what caused the fracas and refused to tell police who was with her at the HOT 97 radio studios when the shooting took place.
It was later discovered that Kim had been at the station when the shots rang out following a feud between her entourage and that of rival rappers Capone-n- Noreaga.
Kim and her friend Monique Dopwell also allegedly lied when later questioned by a grand jury in connection with the investigation.
Kim's lawyer Mel Sachs said, "These charges are baseless and I'm confident that the case against her will be completely dismissed."
Lil Kim was indicted yersterday on felony charges for lying to a federal grand jury about a February 2001 shoot out in New York city. The 28-year-old performer, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was charged with perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice for lying (during three grand jury appearances last year) about the gunplay she witnessed outside the Manhattan office of radio station WQHT over some beef with rival rapper Foxy Brown.
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LIL' KIM PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO PERJURY
Rapper Lil' Kim has pleaded not guilty to charges she lied to a grand jury about a 2001 shootout involving her entourage.
The 29-year-old hip-hop beauty, real name is Kimberly Jones, surrendered in federal court and was released on $500,000 bail Wednesday.
Her attorney Mel Sachs calls the charges "baseless."
Also charged in the case were rapper's manager, Damion Butler, bodyguard Suif Jackson and a friend, Monique Dopwell. All pleaded not guilty.
Lil' Kim, charged with conspiracy to commit perjury, making false statements and obstructing justice, could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. She could also face fines of $250,000.
Hip-hop star Lil' Kim was forced to cancel her appearance at the Kentucky Derby over the weekend, because prosecutors refused to grant her permission to leave her native New York.
According to reports, the raunchy rapper was scheduled to attend various events and her cancellations cost promoters thousands of dollars.
Lil' Kim, real name Kimberly Jones, is currently facing perjury charges, stemming from a 2001 shooting outside of radio network HOT 97's studios in Greenwich Village, New York.
She will stand trial November 25 for eight felony charges, including conspiracy to commit perjury, obstructing justice and making false statements.
The rapper Lil' Kim "flat out lied" to a grand jury investigating the roles of her friends in a gun battle outside a Manhattan radio station, a court heard yesterday.
Kimberly Jones, who faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted of perjury and conspiracy, had "powerful personal and financial motives to lie" about two members of her entourage, said the prosecuting attorney, Daniel Gitner.
The 29-year-old rapper told a grand jury in 2003 that her ex-manager Damion Butler had not been at the station on the day of the shooting and denied knowing former bodyguard Suif Jackson. Both have since admitted they were there.
"They flat out lied," Mr Gitner told the jury. He was referring to the performer and her assistant, Monique Dopwell, who is also on trial.
He said the pair had repeatedly given false statements that "went to the heart of the shootout the grand jury was investigating".
The case stems from a February 2001 clash outside Hot 97 radio station, where Lil' Kim and the rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A. appeared as on-air guests.
After they left the studio, members of her entourage and a rival hip-hop group were involved in the shootout, in which one man was injured. Mr Gitner said 30 bullets had been fired from six different guns. At least one bullet went through a nearby apartment building.
A security camera recorded Lil' Kim standing on the street during the gun battle and then jumping into a limo with people suspected of being involved.
Butler and Jackson pleaded guilty to gun charges. Ms Jones is charged with telling the grand jury that Butler had not been there that day and that she did not know Jackson. But Mr Gitner said the evidence would show that Ms Jones and Mr Jackson had been friends for almost 10 years.
Lil' Kim told jurors yesterday that being in the middle of a wild shootout four years ago was as difficult for her as the Sept. 11 terror attack.
"That was a very heartfelt day, just like the day Biggie [Smalls] died, just like 9/11," said the rapper known for her saucy lyrics.
Nonetheless, she said she wasn't one to dwell on things when her lawyer asked her why she never "inquired" about the 2001 gun battle outside the Hot 97 radio station in SoHo.
"I'm the type of person that just shuts down and moves on," she said during redirect examination by her attorney, Mel Sachs. "I don't live in the past."
Earlier, the 30-year-old rap diva endured a grueling cross-examination by Manhattan federal prosecutor Cathy Seibel.
Seibel tried to paint Lil' Kim as a tax dodger who owed the government early $1 million and lied to the IRS last year about the value of her jewelry collection.
She testified that her bling-bling was worth more than $500,000, but Seibel showed her an IRS document in which she said it was worth just $49,000.
"I signed it without reading it and knowing what it was," she said. "I have nothing to hide. I'm not going to lie."
Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, is on trial for allegedly lying to a grand jury to cover up for her ex-manager and another member of her posse who exchanged gunfire with Capone-N-Noreaga's crew outside Hot 97.
"I could have been killed," she told Seibel.
When asked why she never went to police, the rapper said, "That was a very traumatic time for me."
Asked on cross-examination about a magazine question-and-answer interview in which she was quoted as saying she transported drugs, Lil' Kim said the quote had been "fabricated" to hype her image.
"Lil' Kim, that's a different person than Kimberly Jones," she told Sachs.
The trial will resume Monday with closing arguments.
Outside the courthouse, Lil' Kim blew kisses to fans who shouted, "Go, Kim!"
"They help me get through this, yes, definitely," she said.
Seibel tried to paint Lil' Kim as a tax dodger ... interview quoted as saying she transported drugs
What does that have to do with anything?
If she lied on her Tax form, then she must be hdiing something about this shooting?
If she did deliver drugs, or lied about delivering drugs, then they assume she must be hiding something about the shooting?
quote:
"Lil' Kim, that's a different person than Kimberly Jones," she told Sachs.
That's all very well and good to say when you're talking about your costumes or your lyrics or something, but you can't say that Lil' Kim saw/ heard the shooting and Kimberley Jones didn't see it.
Rap diva Lil' Kim was convicted Thursday of lying to a federal grand jury investigating a shooting outside a radio station.
She was convicted of perjury and conspiracy but acquitted of obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors accused the 4-foot-11 Grammy winner of telling "preposterous" lies to a grand jury relying on her eyewitness testimony about the 2001 gunfight outside WQHT, the rap station known as Hot 97.
The shootout occurred on Feb. 25, 2001, when Lil' Kim's entourage crossed paths with a rival rap group, Capone-N-Noreaga. One man was injured as more than two dozen rounds were fired on the sidewalk. (Report from AP)
I never listened to rap or R&B but all I can say is this about lil' Kim.
Her image has changed somewhat but I think she will be good for the next years to come. Look at all these other rap artists that have committed crimes and been still number one.
