Rapper/actress Lilʼ Kim was recently found guilty of perjury and conspiracy charges stemming from a shoot-out that occurred outside the offices of New York hip-hop and R&B station Hot 97 in 2001. Kim was charged with three counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy. The Grammy-winner who publicly stated last year that the charges were a “witch hunt against the hip-hop industry” was found guilty of lying to a New York grand jury about her association with the suspects who allegedly fired outside the radio station, one of whom was her manager at the time. Kim previously stated to the grand jury that her former manager, Damion Butler, wasnʼt present at the time of the shooting but there was picture evidence and witness testimony that proved he was present with her after she and her label mates, Junior M.A.F.I.A, had finished an interview at the radio station that day.
The incident that occurred on Feb. 25, 2001, proved that the feud between Kim and fellow rapper Foxy Brown started it all. Both rappers had bad blood between them from a radio-diss by Kim and a diss from Foxy Brown on rap group Capone-N-Noreagaʼs song “Bang Bang.” The shootout confrontation occurred after entourages from rival rap groups Capone-N-Noreaga and Junior M.A.F.I.A ran into each other outside the radio station. One person was injured as over 20 shots from six guns were fired.
A member of the prosecution argued that Kimʼs defense was “laughable” and that she thought she could get away with the charges because as a celebrity she thought she was above the law. Kim, who faced charges of perjury and conspiracy, was acquitted of the charge of obstructing justice which could have meant a prison term of up to ten years. She now faces five years for each charge of perjury and conspiracy.
Kimʼs former manager and friend, Suif Jackson, pled guilty to firing shots. Her assistant Monique Dopwell was also found guilty of perjury and conspiracy charges in the case. Lilʼ Kim is currently out on bail. Her prison sentence will be determined in June.