Just when Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda's career seemed to be taking off, he and his GS9 crew were arrested outside of Quad Studios in New York City last December. They were later indicted on a variety of charges, including conspiracy, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and more. They now face a number of years in prison. Last month, Shmurda and his crew all plead not guilty in a Manhattan Supreme Court. Following the proceedings, Shmurda posted bail, but it was later withdrawn. For now, the rapper remains in jail, where he has been since his arrest. His only public appearances have been court appearances regarding indictments and bail applications. Complex caught up with Shmurda's lawyer Kenneth J. Montgomery to talk about the current status of the case.
"We're in that stage where we are trying to get him out on bail," Montgomery told them. "The average household income in Brooklyn is $44,000. I think it would be less in the neighborhood that Bobby is from. His bail is $2 million."
He went on to detail some of Shmurda's charges before explaining that many of the charges are "trumped up" and that Bobby is just like every other kid from that neighborhood.
"You have a kid...when you listen to these phone conversations, it's what most teenagers from that neighborhood, in that life would talk about," he said. "They are claiming he is a gang leader and an enforcer. I've never seen a gang leader and enforcer not actually enforce anything. He's not shot anybody. There are no victims in his situation. It's mindboggling to me that this bail is $2 million, but I know what this is about. This is a show. ...It's unfortunate because this young man's life is on the line as a result of this thing. I've never had a client with these types of charges get a $2 million bail set. I think it's excessive. I think it's unfair, and I think it's just ridiculous to be quite honest with you.
"This is a young man that is not wealthy. He has a great opportunity. We are trying to figure out how we can present a package that a judge -- because I'm not really interested in what the government thinks - will allow the bail to go through."
He goes on to say that he is hopeful that the next bail application will go through.
"I have never presented a bail package or had a client present a bail package that was denied," he explained. "I think as long as we can get this thing done, I don't think it will get denied."
He also addressed previous statements about his Shmurda and is associates being tried individually, explaining that public opinion can be swayed simply by how Shmurda and the GS9 crew look in a group setting.
"I think it's advantageous [for] all of them to be tried on their own, not just Bobby. I said that from a legal point because what you have is - a lot of cases in New York City, which is this media heavy city, are tried in a court of public opinion," he said. "And his case is going to be, and I'll be very candid with you, the black, dangerous kid -- gangster -- dragged into a Manhattan court room with a Manhattan jury. It can be devastating for him. And then when you hear 'conspiracy to commit murder' -- they have no idea that Bobby didn't have anything to do with any murders or shootings, they just hear that. And that's all you need sometimes, and perception is everything. I think all of these young men should be tried on their own and not in this gang, group atmosphere because I don't think that's what it is. You have a group of kids who grew up together in the same neighborhood. Show me the gang activity. Show me the hierarchy in the gang. Show me their supplier for their drugs. Show me their purchase of firearms. Show me all this stuff. I just think they did this to let the public know that this social contract, they have it, and there is no reason to be afraid. We have these bad kids, who are making music and doing all these other things."
Montgomery feels strongly that in reality this "show" is a gun case compounded by those aforementioned "trumped-up" charges.
"It's a constructive possession gun case; however, they are going to paint it in a totally different light," he said. "They are going to criminalize these kids and how they look and how they dress and how they talk, and it's going to be much more than that."
He then explains that he hopes people following the case understand that this issue is a largest systemic problem that targets young kids from poor areas.
"I would hope that these young kids understand that this system has plans for them, and I think that when we walk away from this I think people better realize that listen these kids are under siege and we have to do something in our community to pulsate our community in a way where these kids are no longer under siege," he said. "We need kids who are critically thinking. We need kids who are business minded. There's millions and billions of dollars spent on distracting our young men, and the system has made it that way."
We'll update you as more information on this case comes available. The next hearing is scheduled for April 22.
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