A bodyguard for
Lil’ Kim was sentenced to 12 years in prison due to his involvement in
a daylight shootout in front of Hot 97’s New York offices in 2001.
Suif Jackson, 34,
was handed the stiff sentence by U.S. District Judge Gerard Lynch. Lynch, who
has heard a number of cases related to Hip-Hop, said the sentencing deserved
due to Jackson’s previous criminal history.
Jackson was due
to be released from state prison in August of 2006, where he is serving time
for an unrelated incident. Lynch ordered him to begin the federal sentence immediately
following the end of his state bid.
Prosecutors believe
the 2001 shootout stems from a rivalry between Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown.
Brown released a scathing dis record to Lil’ Kim titled “Bang Bang”
taken from Capone-N-Noreaga’s The Reunion.
The two groups
met as Lil’ Kim’s entourage was leaving the radio station and Capone-N-Noreaga’s
affiliates were entering. Lil’
Kim had already left the studio when the shooting took place. Over 20 shots
were fired and left one man wounded.
Prosecutors allege
Kim knew of the shooting and claim she helped the men find a safe haven. She
is on trial for allegedly lying about her knowledge of the incident to a federal
grand jury and about her relationship with Jackson.
Previously Kim
denied any close relation to Jackson and said that he was merely a bodyguard.
Prosecutors claim both Kim and Jackson were part of Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Lil’ Kim is awaiting
a February trial in connection to the case and in August, the rapper labeled
the whole trial a “witch-hunt against the Hip-Hop industry."
"I am completely
innocent of the charges I have been accused of, and am very confident that my
co-defendants and I will win this case in the courtroom," Lil Kim told
AllHipHop.com in a statement in August.
In related news,
Lil Kim has hired PR firm 5W Public Relations to help shed the stigma of negative
press that has been attached to her name surrounding the trial. She has recently
undertaken the causes of childhood-diabetes research, combating domestic violence
and even launched her own non-profit, Lil’ Kim Cares.
