Prosecutors will use a straight-to-DVD movie as evidence in the trial of Take Down Records’ CEO Alton “Ace Capone,” who is accused of using his record label as a front to run a $25 million dollar drug operation out of Philadelphia.
Coles headed up Take Down Records, a well known local Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop label.
In 2003, the label released a high-quality, straight to DVD film titled New Jack City: The Next Generation.
The “fictional” movie tells the story of a drug dealing crew that rises to the top of the Hip-Hop industry.
Most of the acts featured in the movie were artists on Take Down Records, including rappers Bugsy & Snake, who dropped the popular single “Scratching and Surviving,” which featured Freeway.
The single was produced by Coles and partner Tim “Gotti” Baukman, who also faces drug distribution charges.
In a recent interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Coles denied heading up the $25 million dollar drug ring, which police claim was responsible for 21 shootings and seven homicides.
“I’m not the guy that they allege me to be,” Coles to The Inquirer. “I’m not no boss of a street organization running a big, giant drug conspiracy.”
Five other defendants face trial with Coles, who is facing a life sentence for allegedly selling a ton of cocaine and a half-ton of crack throughout the region of Philadelphia, Chester and West Chester, Pennsylvania.
“He was already living that life when he made that movie,” said John Hageman, spokesman for the Philadelphia office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Coles and several associates have been jailed since August 2005, when police conducted a series of raids throughout Philadelphia that turned up $800,000 in cash, over two dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Police tapped Coles’ cellphone and in the first 15 days, recorded over 4,800 calls as he moved around Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
According to investigators, Coles made over 280 phone calls a day.
Jurors will be anonymous due to the alleged threat Coles’ gang presents to possible witnesses and jury members.
