New York Police Department investigators claim that several high profile celebrities have been robbed by a gang of thieves who are linked to superstar rapper Fabolous.
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According to the New York Post, police have linked members of Fabolous’ Street Family Entertainment to the robbery of New York Giants ex-cornerback Frank Walker, as well as boxing champion Zab Judah, who the gang allegedly robbed twice.
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The most notorious incident involving alleged members of Street Family is the robbery of Brooklyn bred NBA guard Sebastian Telfair.
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Telfair was robbed outside of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ now-defunct Justin’s Restaurant in Manhattan in October of 2006.
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Police allegedly have surveillance footage that captured members of Fabolous’ entourage snatching a $50,000 chain off of Telfair’s neck, shortly before the rapper was shot in the leg.
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Telfair was later questioned in the shooting incident, but failed to identify Fabolous or three other suspects in a police lineup.
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Two months before Fabolous was shot, the rapper’s brother Paul Cain, 25, was also wounded in violence suspected to be connected to several other chain snatching incidents.
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Officials believe that the gang has about 20 members who are former drug dealers that hail from the Brevoort Houses in Brooklyn, where Fabolous was raised.
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The gang allegedly operates in the Chelsea and Flatiron district area in Manhattan, where Fabolous’ childhood friend Shamel McKinney was recently stabbed to death.
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McKinney, 25, was stabbed to death on November 23, outside of club Duvet during an altercation with several men.
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According to police, McKinney may have attempted to snatch a $10,000 dollar chain from another Brooklyn man named Anthony Taylor.
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Taylor, 26, was apprehended in Atlanta last week and is expected to be  charged with McKinney’s murder.
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Fabolous, born John Jackson, denied that members of his Street Family Entertainment are engaged in criminal activities.
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“I would like my fans and supporters worldwide to know how disappointed I am in some of the media for the misrepresentation and abuse of my name,” Fabolous told AllHipHop.com in a statement issued on December 4. “I do not want the young people who listen to my music and watch my videos to believe that I am engaged in any illegal activities that would discredit my character.”
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Despite his denial, police continue to investigate if the rapper was present at the club on the evening McKinney was slain.
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In related news, Duvet, which was located on West 21st street, was forced to close down and cease operation last week by court order.