Rapper Ca$h Out has been sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years after being found guilty on multiple charges tied to a RICO case involving sex trafficking, rape, and coercion.
The Atlanta rapper, whose real name is John Michael Hakeem Gibson, rose to fame in the early 2010s with the hit single “Cashin’ Out.” However, his music career has since been overshadowed by serious criminal allegations. Gibson was found guilty on Friday in Fulton County following a lengthy trial that painted a disturbing picture of a sex trafficking ring he was accused of leading alongside his mother and cousin.
Prosecutors alleged that Gibson used his fame and influence to recruit and exploit women, coercing them into prostitution through manipulation, threats, and violence. The charges included racketeering, rape, aggravated sodomy, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, and keeping a place of prostitution.
In court, Gibson denied the charges, claiming he was wrongfully convicted. “The jury made the wrong judgment,” he told the judge before sentencing. He also accused the state of pressuring alleged victims to testify against him, and controversially invoked Jesus, comparing his situation to a falsely accused figure.
Judge Ural Glanville did not mince words in her sentencing remarks. She said the trial revealed “the very worst of human behavior toward other human beings,” and that the prosecution had proven “the diabolical conduct of the defendants occurred beyond a reasonable doubt.” The life sentence and additional 70 years were ordered to run concurrently, meaning Gibson will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Gibson’s mother, Linda Smith, received a 30-year prison sentence, while his cousin, Tyrone Taylor, was also sentenced to life plus 70 years for his role in the trafficking operation.
Source: 11 Alive
