LAS VEGAS– An ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader has been denied release from a Las Vegas prison ahead of his trial in the 1996 murder of music legend Tupac Shakur, despite an offer from a hip-hop figure. to underwrite his $750,000 bond.
A Nevada judge rejected house arrest with electronic monitoring for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 61, saying she was not satisfied with assurances that Davis and his future benefactor — Cash “Wack 100” Jones — did not intend to profit from selling Davis’ life story.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said in her ruling Wednesday that an examination of Jones’ financial records also did little to allay her concerns that Jones could be a “front man” or “middleman” for the real bond poster .”
Davis attempted to be released shortly after his death. arrest last September made him the only person ever charged with a crime in the murder, which has attracted intense interest and speculation for 27 years.
Prosecutors allege that the gunfire in Las Vegas that killed Shakur was the result of competition between East Coast members of a Bloods gang sect and West Coast groups of a Crips cult, including Davis. dominance in a musical genre known at the time as ‘gangsta rap’.
Davis has pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder. His trial is scheduled for November 4. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
After 45 minutes hearing on TuesdayKierny said she was left with more questions than answers after Davis’ legal team tried to prove the source of the money.
Prosecutors have argued that Davis plans to profit from the retelling of his story about Shakur’s murder and have played a recording of a jailhouse phone call in which Jones describes to Davis a plan to produce “30 to 40 episodes” of a show based on his life story. .
“It is an illegal benefit that benefits from this crime,” prosecutor Binu Palal told the judge. Palal did not immediately respond Wednesday to an email seeking comment on the judge’s decision.
Jones, a music record manager who has managed hip-hop artists including Johnathan “Blueface” Porter and Jayceon “The Game” Taylor, provided sworn testimony Tuesday via video from an unspecified location in California.
He said he paid 15% of the bail amount, or $112,500, as “a gift” from his business accounts to secure Davis’ release.
A spokesperson for Davis’ attorney, Carl Arnold, had no immediate comment when reached by email.
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Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Associated Press journalists Rio Yamat and Ty ONeil in Las Vegas and Jonathan Landrum in Los Angeles contributed to this report.