New York trial of hip-hop label begins

NEW YORK, NY, United States (UPI) -- Hip-hop stars Ja Rule and Ashanti were in the New York courtroom for Wednesday`s start of the federal money laundering trial of their label`s founders.

Brothers Irving and Christopher Gotti are accused of using drug money to start their label, Murder Inc., now simply The Inc., and continuing to launder money through their enterprise for New York drug kingpin Kenneth \'Supreme\' McGriff.

In opening arguments, Prosecutor Sean Haran described the relationship between McGriff and the Lorenzos. He said McGriff was a secret partner whose drug money was used to start up Murder Inc., then used it to launder his illegal gains, SOHH.com reported.

The brothers` defense claims they only associated with McGriff for street credibility and he was never involved in the label that launched Ashanti and Ja Rule to stardom.

Source: United Press International