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.
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.
The most notorious incident involving alleged members of Street Family is the robbery of Brooklyn bred NBA guard Sebastian Telfair.
Telfair was robbed outside of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ now-defunct Justin’s Restaurant in Manhattan in October of 2006.
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.
Telfair was later questioned in the shooting incident, but failed to identify Fabolous or three other suspects in a police lineup.
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.
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.
The gang allegedly operates in the Chelsea and Flatiron district area in Manhattan, where Fabolous’ childhood friend Shamel McKinney was recently stabbed to death.
McKinney, 25, was stabbed to death on November 23, outside of club Duvet during an altercation with several men.
According to police, McKinney may have attempted to snatch a $10,000 dollar chain from another Brooklyn man named Anthony Taylor.
Taylor, 26, was apprehended in Atlanta last week and is expected to be charged with McKinney’s murder.
Fabolous, born John Jackson, denied that members of his Street Family Entertainment are engaged in criminal activities.
“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.”
Despite his denial, police continue to investigate if the rapper was present at the club on the evening McKinney was slain.
In related news, Duvet, which was located on West 21st street, was forced to close down and cease operation last week by court order.