Jimmy Wopo Named in Indictment as Leader Giving Orders to Inflict Violence on Rival Gang
Nearly two months after his death, Jimmy Wopo has been named in an indictment of the 11 Hunnit gang and is accused of giving orders to members to inflict violence on a rival gang.
While Wopo, real name Travon Smart, was not charged in the indictment last week, the slain rapper's name appears multiple times throughout the 15-page indictment. “It is no secret that Jimmy has ties to those guys, but any conduct alleged would not have been recent,” Wopo's attorney, Owen Seman, told the Tribune-Review.
Although the 11 Hunnit gang, which Wopo belonged to, lacked a formal hierarchy, Wopo was considered to be one of the higher-ups in the crew. Identified only by his initials in the indictment, a section reads: "T.S. held the greater influence within the group largely due to his notoriety as a regionally popular rap artist."
The indictment goes on to state that members of 11 Hunnit would carry out orders given by the Pittsburgh rapper and in return would be rewarded for their acts.“Members attempted to curry favor with T.S. by carrying out criminal acts at his direction," the indictment reads. "In return, T.S. often rewarded those that committed criminal acts at his behest by including them in his music videos and providing them with items of monetary value.”
Along with giving orders to members of 11 Hunnit to inflict violence on rival gangs, Wopo allegedly told members of the gang to hurt other 11 Hunnit members "who fell short of his expectations."
Seman assures that the acts alleged in the indictment took place earlier in Wopo's life, adding, “I feel like people are getting the impression that this was all allegedly going on recently. He really was trying to get out."
The attorney also said Wopo had been trying to get permission to embark on a tour and was ready to sign a record deal with Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang imprint. Seman adds that leaving Pittsburgh would have been good for the "Elm Street" rapper.
Wopo was shot and killed on June 18 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, as he and another individual sat in a car. A public viewing for the rapper was held on June 27.
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