Feds Say Philly Label Head Was Drug Kingpin, Point to DVD as Evidence

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  68 Comments

The federal trial of Philadelphia record label head and promoter Alton Coles, who stands accused of distributing millions of dollars in cocaine, got under way on Wednesday (January 16). According to the Associated Press, in February 2007 prosecutors handed down a 194-count indictment against the head of Take Down Records, claiming that he moved $25 million in cocaine through the Delaware Valley and used the record label as a front for his illegal activity. In addition to weapons and drugs seized in raids on Coles home and the homes of his associates, the Feds will show jurors a 31-minute DVD called New Jack City: The Next Generation that depicts the defendant as a ruthless crack kingpin named Ace Capone. Coles’ attorney, Christopher Warren, denies that the role his client portrays in the film has any basis in reality and says that prosecutors are misinterpreting phone conversations that were recorded during the investigation. “It was an art film and it was imitating life—just not his life,” Warren told jurors. “Some of these conversations that the government says are so damning … is actually him discussing props. These are movies about the drug culture.” But the Feds disagree with Warren’s theory and say that Take Down Records was simply a shell company established to launder illegal funds from the drug trade. They even claim that Coles actually lost money on some of his legitimate ventures, such as a 2002 concert in Philly that featured Jay-Z and Beane Sigel. “When you look behind the storefront, there was nothing there—nothing except the drugs and the guns and the violence,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bresnick remarked in his opening statement. The trial is estimated to last about two months.

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  • ATL = All Trannies Live

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Hope they get a 100 years

    • T BO

      USE A BITCH FUKIN HATER

  • DevilintheFlesh

    I knew that these “street” DVD’s and CD’s could be used as evidence eventually. Theres only so much you can do before the GUBMENT wants their piece.

  • LAUGHIN@U

    U GOTTA HUSTLE SMARTER DEN’ DAT!

  • these posts are racist

    Wow, on so many levels.

  • J.A.D.N.

    Ha, ha! Dumb Niggas!

    • TRIZZY

      WHO THE FUCK DID HE THINK HE WAS NINO BROWN

  • ri067953

    Yo, if these guys are really distrubting coke then they deserve to go down for the simple fact that they didn’t stick to the G-code. Yo, when you hustling you gotta make that quiet money and not potray yourself as a drug dealer in a DVD. That shit is not smart.

    • that nigga

      Your absolutely right. Just ask Big Meech and them BMF dudes.

  • d-town finest

    If they really did what the government is accusing them of then that wasnt a smart move, buy some car washes, hire some crack heads to wash em or something and launder the money through the business like everybody else does :)

  • Ghost of 2Pac

    All I can say…. Yall niggas won’t never, and I mean never learn.

  • King David

    Goddamn.

  • maxamill

    stupid ass niggas,stupid ass niggas, stupid ass niggasssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

  • one shot deal

    “It was an art film and it was imitating life—just not his life,”

    why portray it in a video then? i always thought these dvds would come back to haunt rappers who show guns on camera. This is what i imagine happened in the courtroom:

    “Its not my life your honor”
    “Then why do you proclaim in the dvd and your music and I quote ‘this is real life, we live this shit nigga!”
    “…”
    lmao

  • fireforreal

    On the real with all these street dvd’s and some cd’s some of these niggas who really still doing dirt there actually snitchin on themselves.

  • LOL @ dumb thugs

    I HOPE THY GET LIFE WITH NO PAROLE LACK OF MORALS + EXTREME STUPIDITY SHOULD BE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

    ONE CAN ONLY WONDER WHAT GOOD THIS NIGGA COULD HAVE DONE WOULD HE ONLY PUT HIS ENERGY IN GOOD THINGS. TOO LATE FOR THAT NOW – FUCK HIM.

  • Bgates

    You are a fuckin hater ATL. Go kill yourself faggot.

    • ATL = All Trannies Live

      Them dudes hated on 100′s families by selling crack/poison in Philly. You can big’em all you want to.

      But you’re right I HATE drug dealers

  • Flymasta

    THIS PROVES MY POINT ON WHY SNITCH ON NIGGAS IF NIGGAS CAN SNITCH ON THEMSELVES

    IF IT AIN’T A FICTIONAL MOVIE DON’T TELL UR LIFE ON A DVD BIOGRAPHY

  • these posts are racist

    One thing people are missing on these comments is the strong attack on freedom of speech this trial real is. When you start using DVD’s and other forms of entertainment as evidence in criminal proceedings, you scare people from being creative and producing music, movies, etc. in fear that these sources of entertainment can one day be used against them.

    • http://www.first.com First

      That’s pretty much the dumbest shit I’ve heard all day.

      • these posts are racist

        I challenge you to explain your comment, or do you simply make statements without any type of argument to support your position?

        • TPAR is not welcome

          Sorry, but you are no challenge. Your assumption is bananas, since this has absolutely nothing to do with freedom of expression.
          To bhe honets, if this prevents horrible low-to-no-budget DVDs to disappear from the streets, I would salute that. But it won’t happen.

          Also keep in mind that he is not on trial for making DVDs. But of course you skipped that part, since your bottomless hate for anything that is White has blinded your sight.

          You need to understand that there is nothing wwrong with the fact that when I kill someone deliberately, that I indeed deserve to go to jail.
          Although I am sure that you would find some excuse, if it is a minority.

          Please stay in Bol’s blog, nobody wants to debate your despicable views.

        • EBM

          This has nothing to do with free speech. This has everything to do with stupidity. If you hustle you have no business on a DVD. Everyone wants to be famous. You’re on a dvd with guns and drugs and shit, fully well knowing that what you’re portraying, be it fictional or not, is illegal. not to mention the life that you live is illegal, its not gonna take much to say that what you’re doing on the dvd is probably a reflection of what you do in real life.

          They’ll never accuse Denzel of being a drug kingpin because of his role in American Gangsta because in real life, thats not what he does. But if you get someone that actually does these things in real life on a dvd portraying it, it wont be that hard to convince a jury that this is not fictional.

          Smarten up people… we’re making it too easy for them to lock us up and hold us down.

    • Fire

      TPAR made a good point. If it’s a fictional DVD it shouldn’t be used as evidence in a real case, no matter what race the defendant is.

      • raf

        They don’t specify what the DVD is used for. chances are it’s only to rule out the possiblility of them using “props” as an excuse

  • KLETEWOOD

    I’m wit Bgates…Ya’ll sound like a bunch of haters!

  • british B

    I pray for him I dont wish that on anybody. A 194-count indictment what the feezy they mad at him real mad….

  • The Camera Man

    I hope they don’t get me for shoot this shit!

  • http://www.hip-hopkings.com Stu

    Damn, it seems every label is built from drugs lol.

  • marz

    SELF INCRIMINATION, THEY DON’T WANNA BE GANSTERS , THEY WANT TO BE FAMOUS

    PERSONALLY I PEAD THE FIFTH.

    • Alcoholic Boogieman

      I second that,what kind of dopeman want’s everybody to know he’s or even think he’s a dopeman.Give me the money fuck da fame.

  • Richard

    Ohio’s finest check me out http://www.myspace.com/rimestrike1

  • Bgates

    Co-sign TPAR(just this once)this infringes on freedom of speech and should not be admisable in court.

  • KrazyK823

    LMFAO lol lmfao another great story I love it , first a fake blood gets shot in brooklyn then an dumb ass drug dealer puts his life on DVD so the alphabet boys can make a case against him, dumb ass criminals. When are we going to learn that gan bangin and drugs lead to prison time or a death bed. lets cut this shit out people. I don’t wish no black man to go to jail but when you give these crackers ammo to put you there what can I say. Good luck with ya case hope them crackers didn’t freeze all ya assests so you have some money to defend yaself. drug game is dead r.i.p 1980 – 1997

  • Mean Greene

    Damn. I actually knew one of the guys that was helping them distribute this dvd.

    My problem with them showing this as evidence is that this was an actual “movie” not a “street dvd” whereas these guys were potrayed as characters not just niggas in the streets living real life. I cant see how the judge could even allow that. This dude’s lawyer is straight garbage. Imagine Tom Cruise going on murder trial and the prosecutors showing Mission Impossible 3 as evidence. Crazy.

  • 2wack

    black people lost againnnnn

  • mmmmmmmmm

    Add some weezy music to ur myspace page!

    http://www.myspace.com/weeyanafbaby

  • http://www.514smoke.blogspot.com 514 Smoke

    When keeping it real goes wrong… Keep yo hustle on the low stupid, the drug game ain’t a game. What other race do you people see flashing their drug business in DVD while still being IN the game? Us ans us only. Get it right or receive the consequences of being a dumb criminal.

  • Nati Boy

    just pure stupidity

  • beatz23

    OKAY…while your at it use his last album as evidence too..hell just rip some hair off his head and put it next to a dead body.
    FUCK HIP-HOP POLICE

  • Fireforreal

    Yeah fuck the hip hop police and also fuck anybody talking about how much weight they pushed while on camera.I mean really why tell on yourself you might as well video tape yourself moving the drugs then send the tape to the police.If anything someone who does not like you and can just drop the dvd off to the cops just so they can fuck with you.

  • the observer

    damn, if they can use a dvd against this guy, then they can use any rappers material that talks about or depicts drug dealing, or killing, or anything illegal, as evidence. shouldnt every gangsta rapper b scared now? hey, y not? every hollywood movie ever made that shows any criminality should b used as evidence against the actors. what about the writers? the producers? where is this supposed 2 end.

  • Ghost Deini

    “Rap snitches, tellin all their business
    Sit in the court and be they own star witness
    Do you see the perpetrator, yeah I’m right here
    Fuck around and get the whole label sent up for years (Huh)”

  • http://asianmanflavor@msn.com Cali Is Active

    194 count indictment … dam. I guess a Fed investigator can lie to you but when you like to a Federal investigator it is a crime. F the Feds

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  • Jonny Highsocks

    TPAR shut yo ass up!! U trying to sound like u so damn smart when the fact is that blacks and other races don’t distrust most whites because of something we just made up in our head, it’s based on history and the past actions of whites(U know the rape, murder, theft, slavery, ect…). Go post on TRL.com u fucc stick

    • these posts are racist

      Johnny,

      Who are you responding to? I didn’t write anything that’s related to your response. Someone named “TPAR is not welcome” posted some ignorant stuff above, but that is not me. I post under “these posts are racist”, see my posts above.

  • Ooooops.

    This is definitive proof that drug dealers are really stupid people. Seriously.
    Too many in the streets seem to think that they are genius business men simply because they can count money and make phone calls but in reality, anyone could be a big-time drug dealer-even a complete idiot that would make a DVD movie bragging about illegal activity.

    “I never knew hustlers, confessed in stereo
    Or on video get caught you’ll know who turned State’s
    Evidence, murder weapon, confession and fingerprints
    Mama always said watch what comes out your mouth
    Tight case for the DA from here to down South”

  • reddzbadbidness

    I’M TELLING YOU THIS SHYT AIN’T NO JOKE CUZ THEY DONE ARRESTED 30 NUCCAS UP HERE MOSTLY ON CONSPIRACY CHARGES N THINGS OF THE WE DON’T HAVE ANY “HARD EVIDENCE” NATURE, BUT THE KICK N DA ASS WAS WHEN THEY PULLED OUT THIS HOOD DVD WITH THESE NUCCAS WITH THE WRATCHETS AND 1 DUDE TALKIN BOUT “I SELL CRACK ALL DAY” (AS HE SPITS CRACK OUTTA HIS MOUTH ON CAMERA) YEAH I THINK THE SENTENCING RANGED FROM 3 YRS TO 2- 5 -2…..

    518 STAND UP
    ALL MY JUNGLE JUNKIES HOLD YALL HEADZ….

    “`MIZ REDD HAS LEFT DA BUILDING!!“`

  • micguevara

    Now i have never seen this DVD can anyone who has please help me out?is this a motion picture?or a “street dvd” if it is jsut a motion picture with a script it will have no bareing on the case.
    However if it is some Bio on this dude,then its pretty much all over for him

  • Ya Mommas Pimp

    niggas be doin the dumbest shit nowadays taping theyself n shit retards..

  • http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=18545 Jay

    see rap mother fuckas r so dumb now a days.. they think there mad gangsta n shit n have 2 prove it to the whole world in order to be a rapper.. so they think their hot shit do sum shit wit coke on a dvd push it out n now bout 2 catch sum yard time.. man all the rap dudes stop tryna be real be yaselfff faggots thats wut ur dumb asses get

  • blkpwr79

    this goes to “the observer”:
    The DVD is evidence to “SUPPORT” their investigation which means there’s “OTHER” things they’ve found to raise suspision that implicate these dudes “ALONG” w/ the DVD. Do you honestly THINK that they would pick a random rapper and say…”he’s talking bout drugs and guns in this song. Thats all we need to put him in jail.” A persons music “ALONE” is not enough. If you’ve commited no real crime it doesnt matter what you do “ARTISTICLY” in other words if you a rapper spittin this fairy tale $h!t, you’ll be ok, cuz its just…. a fairy tale.

  • COOL

    STOP SAYING IT’S OK FOR THESE IDIOTS TO SELL DRUGS TO OUR AND IT’S THE POLICE FAULT. WHY SHOULD WE RESPECT SOMEONE WHO POISON PEOPLE SO THEY CAN LIVE AMORAL LIFESTYLES. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINIG ABOUT THIS CLOWN BEING ARRESTED YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT HE ISN’T GETTING ANOTHER BLACK PERSON HOOKED ON CRACK. IS MONEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING A RIGHT AND DECENT PERSON?

  • BossGame

    Or you could finally come to the realization that(1) these “Vikings” are never, ever gonna allow you to get away with selling drugs. (2)When you sell drugs to your own people, it’s because you don’t give a darn about them, and the prospect of hell and eternal anguish are minor threats compared to the benefits and momentary glory of saying once upon a time “I was King Nigga amonnst the tribe of Niggas”!

    Ever wonder why cats like Kennedy and Perot were willing to become POTUS without pay? Because money has their face on it! They make it on machines that they built and when the economy needs more they get on the phone and order up more. Meanwhile we lay it all down for money. Brother, sister, mother and father.
    Almost 3 hundred years on the roster and not one of us on a nickel in this mugg. Yet the first to get up in Video and on song and brag how we all about the dough. People it’s time to stop having sympathy for the devil. Wake Up!

  • niggafrommemphis

    The lessonn here yall is this:NOBODY,small or kingpin,is bigger than the game itself.If you can’t recognize that,believe me in time,the game will catch up with you and if your lucky enough to go to jail,your life is gonna be miserable.All the pussy you brag about,gone.All the kush you brag about,gone.All that money that makes you happier than a ho on a shopping spree,gone.And why?Cuz of your lack of respect for yourself and the game.Some of these niggas do need to get they asses robbed just for being stupid.You can be the biggest kingpin in the country,but if everyone is watchin you doin positive,that’s the feedback your gonna get.But when your stupid,your goin down and all the shit you bought or recieved from dirty money is going straight to the feds,in other words,you been workin for them all this time.You were just to stupid,naieve and arrogant to know it.

  • B DOT

    when will dudes learn that getting rich off the drug game has came and gone. it died when supreme team and pap and all them dudes got locked. ima 80′s baby forreal and i know this. when i say getting rich i mean big HOUSES expensive CARS things like that. just cause you got a chain and A nice car on some rims you ain’t ballin homie. when dudes gonna learn. back then it was morales to it. you had cops in pocket plus you ain’t really want anybody to know where the money came from. now all of these dudes are so digital. yall niggas forget that it’s illegal. if you hustlin and makin dvd’s about it you diserve every second they give you. ima sound old when i say this but back in the day you’d get bodied if you tried to take a picture of a real hustla. im from farrock and i know what it is. but like jay said, “i forgive you, hustlin just ain’t you…”

  • lawyer

    It’s not a violation of free speech you dummies. they’re not questioning whether it was legal for the dvd to be made. the issue is whether or not the dvd is a valid piece of evidence. you wanna make a dvd braggin about your drug deals, you and everyone else is free to do so but, that don’t mean it can’t be used as evidence against you later on down the road.

    the issue w/ this is whether that dvd is even admissable b/c it’s claimed to be a fictional movie.

    if i fucking shot someone and then i made a song about it you think that shit wouldn’t get me convicted? of course it would. you’re fucking confessing a crime you retard.

    • these posts are racist

      Do you deny it would “chill” entertainers speech? While I do not think this should be the only question asked in a case like this, it is important and critical that we not take admitting mere speech, especially in an entertainment context, as evidence in a criminal proceeding lightly.

  • http://xxl gside

    they need to charge them nigga’s with makeing a bullshit video. I want my 20 dollars back that shit was garbage . give them 20 years a year for ever dollar I blew on that bullshit or let them cop out to a knunkle sandwich somthing they could did better than that.

  • fastflipper

    soon they gonna call up rick ross for all the bullshit he rap lol

  • http://www.myspace.com/phillyswain Diamond

    Hello am a representative for TAKEDOWN RECORDS and to set the rcord straight yes it was just a movie there was nothin real about that movies just entertainment and so that u can understand more better the new movie is out it’s called HUSTLE DIARES that will clear everything up check out the movie. http://www.myspace.com/phillyswain

  • Jennifer

    She was said to have a personal account on ‘BillionaireCupid.com’ club with her hot pictures and blogs there. The site is getting hotter and hotter, cuz quite a few millionaires and celebrities tend to go there.

  • The realest

    at the end of the day when u making that kind of paper geeting caught is just the inevitable.

  • PK47 aka Prince of Philly

    um, i thought these niggas woulda been realized, especially philly niggas, that u move that type of shit, keep it the fuck under wraps & not let anotha soul know of ur movements in anyway. by word of mouth or dvd player

  • mikelew

    I dont think it was a smart move makin the dvd, but how can DEM PEOPLE separate reality and entertainment? I dont know the whole story but if they werent investigatin em B4 the movie, whut do they hav to stand on?