|
Mystikal Facing Rape And Extortion Charges
07/19/2002 1:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Shane Bishop
(7/19/02, 1 p.m. ET) -- New Orleans-based rapper Mystikal (Michael Tyler) was freed on $250,000 bond on Thursday (July 18) after being charged with aggravated rape and extortion. The rapper, who surrendered to police early Thursday, is facing a mandatory life sentence if found guilty of the aggravated rape charge, as well as a sentence of one to 15 years in jail if found guilty of extortion.
The charges stem from an incident that took place on July 3 at Mystikal's home. A 40-year-old woman allegedly received checks from the rapper's account without his permission. Upon arriving at the rapper's house, the woman was allegedly attacked and raped by Mystikal, and then later by two other men, Leland Ellis, 36, and Vercy Carter, 34.
According to published reports, the rapper threatened to call the police because of the misappropriated checks unless the woman performed oral sex on him. A police statement released to the AP provided some additional details: "During the attacks, the victim was repeatedly threatened with prosecution of the checks and great bodily harm. The victim was allowed to leave the residence after the attacks. She was treated and released at a local hospital."
The rapper's Jive Records label did not return calls by press time and has issued no official statement.
Mystikal last release, 2001's Tarantula, was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies. The rapper's previous effort, 2000's Let's Get Ready, was certified double-platinum and included the hits "Danger" and "Shake Ya Ass."
-- Yves Erwin Salomon, New York
For more news at LAUNCH, click here.
Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to launchnews@yahoo.com.
|
