Lawyers for 36 Mafia member Project Pat are in
the process of filing an appeal to have the rapper released from a Mason, Tennessee
prison. Pat is a seven year sentence for weapons charges.
Members of the 36 Mafia have long held that Pat
never received a fair trial alleging among other things racism.
After a Memphis Federal jury deadlocked and couldn’t
reach a verdict, Pat’s trial was moved to Jackson, Tennessee, where he was subsequently
convicted.
While the group members do not deny that the
revolvers were found under the car, they simply claim that the jury was biased
after listening to Pat’s lyrics and watching excerpts of Pat in the gritty urban
tale, “Choices.”
"They used his lyrics and our movie ‘Choices’
against him in court," group member DJ Paul told AllHipHop.com. "After
they couldn’t reach a verdict in Memphis, they took him to a little country
ass city outside of the city. Plus his jury was ten whites and two blacks. Those
aren’t Pat’s peers."
Pat was pulled over for speeding in January 2001.
Police found two revolvers under the seat of his SUV. At the time, he was on
parole for aggravated robbery.
"We are looking at getting him out in the
next year and a half," Paul continued. Meanwhile, Three Six Mafia are readying
their next album, titled Da Unbreakables, with appearances by Project
Pat. The album hits stores February 3, 2003.
