Vivendi Universal Hit With Subpoenas In Murder Inc. Drama

According to the Los Angeles times, federal authorities served grand jury subpoenas at Vivendi Universal’s New York offices this week. The agents were seeking records related to royalties, invoices and other information, in an attempt to find financial ties between Murder Inc.’s Irv Gotti and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a convicted Queens, New York drug dealer. […]

According to the Los Angeles times, federal authorities

served grand jury subpoenas at Vivendi Universal’s New York offices this week.

The agents were seeking records related to royalties,

invoices and other information, in an attempt to find financial ties between

Murder Inc.’s Irv Gotti and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a convicted

Queens, New York drug dealer.

Gotti allegedly provided artists from Murder

Inc., including Ja-Rule, to appear for free in the film McGriff produced, "Crime

Partners 2000." Gotti also allegedly secured a $500,000 advance from Island

Def Jam to help finish the soundtrack.

"The government has been contacted by individuals

involved in the film and soundtrack who can provide documentation to prove that

Mr. Lorenzo’s (Gotti) business was started with legitimate funds," McGriff’s

attorney Robert Simels said.

"If the government wants to call Island

Def Jam or Vivendi Universal a corrupt organization, I would like to see how

they intend to back that up."

Vivendi reps had no comments.