(AllHipHop News) An article published by the New York Daily News helped triggered the demise of a massive cocaine operation, allegedly headed up by James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond.
Rosemond is currently on trial in Brooklyn, New York, for allegedly masterminding the $10 million-a-year cocaine operation, that shipped drugs from Los Angeles to New York, and sent the proceeds back West.
The organization would ship hundreds of kilos of cocaine per month in music crates and vacuum sealed bags, using various overnight services.
The organization employed the same technique with millions in cash as well, according to testimony from Khalil Abdullah.
Abdullah, 38, was a high-ranking, trusted manager in the organization, who is now cooperating with the government and testifying against Rosemond.
Today (May 16) in court, Khalil Abdullah testified that a September 2010 article published in the New York Daily News convinced him that Rosemond was cooperating with authorities.
Abdullah was aware an investigation was taking place and was fearful that Rosemond would turn him.
The New York Daily News article claimed that Rosemond had already cooperated with federal authorities in two previous cases, one in North Carolina and the other in Florida.
When Abdullah read the article, he testified that he did his own research and found official court documents, which confirmed that Rosemond had indeed cooperate with authorities, in two separate cases.
“I believed it was true…he said it wasn’t true. My opinion was strong,” Abdullah testified. “If he did it before, he would do it again. That’s when I decided to take action myself. I was the dude on the front line.”
This information, along with previous articles written by journalist Chuck Philips and documents that circulated through prison, helped undermine Rosemond’s credibility in the underworld.
It was then, that Abdullah hatched a
bizarre plan, contacted the FBI, the DEA and the New York prosecutors office, in hopes of setting up Rosemond and his associates.
Incredibly, Khalil Abdullah went to a Kinko’s in Atlanta Georgia, typed up a letter to the FBI, the DEA and the New York prosecutor’s office.
He revealed the details behind a large shipment that was expected to arrive in New York that same day.
Abdullah then set up a long time associate and told him that there was $1 million in cash at Smash Recording Studios in New York.
Abdullah said he instructed the associate to leave $650,000 behind, which was the amount he said was waiting for the FBI, in hopes of concealing and stealing, the $400,000 difference.
Abdullah said he continued to associate with Rosemond and act like he was clueless as to any investigations into the organization.
Abdullah testified that he was “stunned” when authorities presented a photograph of him faxing the document at Kinko’s, since the company takes footage of every person that sends a fax.
But Rosemond’s attorney Gerald Shargel vigorously cross-examined Khalil Abdullah and questioned his motives to testify.
According to Abdullah himself, he has met with prosecutors 16 times in the past year, with eight of those dates dedicated to pre-trial coaching.
Shargel also went through a number of allegations that were presented by the prosecution, and noted that there was no physical or actual connection to Rosemond in any of the evidence presented thus far.
Khalil Abdullah admitted on the stand that he has a cooperation agreement in place with authorities, in addition to having to pay back a $100,000 fine.
Abdullah testified that from 2007 until 2011, he earned over $4 million in illegal drug proceeds.
Testimony continues all this week.
