The downtown Atlanta,
GA offices of the Aphilliates Music Group were raided this afternoon (January
16), resulting in the arrests of 28-year-old Tyree "DJ Drama" Simmons
and 27-year-old Donald Cannon, also known as DJ Don Cannon.The
Fulton County Swat Team, with assistance from Clayton County Police, entered the
label’s offices and studios at 147 Walker Street in the early evening hours. Officials
allegedly seized close to 50,000 CDs and took the 17 employees into custody for
questioning. According
to Sgt. Nikita Hightower with the Fulton County Sheriff’s office, the warrant
was executed by Clayton County officers, which is just south of Atlanta.
DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon were charged with racketeering and are being held at
the Fulton County jail without bond. According
to authorities, the search executed sought only DJ Drama and Don Cannon, who were
allegedly charged with racketeering. "These
guys are actively advertising online. They’ve got a website that they’re advertising
from, that’s where you place your orders and that’s how the orders are shipped
out," Matthew Kilgo of the RIAA told local reporters. "Statistics also
show that you can make up to a 90% profit just off the resale of counterfeit CDs.
So there’s huge money to be made in it, and there’s no stigma attached to purchasing
it."In
addition to the CDs, which were taken as evidence and will later be destroyed,
police also seized computers, recording equipment and cars on the premises. Representatives
for the Aphilliates Music Group could not be reached for comment.All
links to mixtapes on The
Aphilliates Music Group website has been removed and the GangstaGrillz.com
website simply advertises a new Gangsta Grillz album by DJ Drama.DJ
Drama and DJ Don Cannon will appear in court tomorrow at 11:00 am.