David Kenner, a lawyer who unsuccessfully defended convicted Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, pleaded guilty on Friday to misdemeanor criminal contempt and was sentenced to one year of probation after admitting he leaked confidential material to reporters in 2023.
Federal prosecutors said Kenner was representing Michel in the federal conspiracy case over the rapper’s role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. After Kenner had been provided discovery materials in order to prepare for Michel’s defense, as is typical in criminal cases,...
Federal prosecutors said Kenner was representing Michel in the federal conspiracy case over the rapper’s role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. After Kenner had been provided discovery materials in order to prepare for Michel’s defense, as is typical in criminal cases,...
- 1/27/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has entered a motion for a new trial, claiming that his lawyer blew the closing arguments at the original hearing by relying too much on artificial intelligence to craft his final pitch.
Michel called AI “experimental” and said the program’s use resulted in a number of errors by an “unqualified, unprepared, and ineffectual” trial attorney.
Michel was convicted in April on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.
He was accused of funneling money from a Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to stop a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
His trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel is free pending sentencing...
Michel called AI “experimental” and said the program’s use resulted in a number of errors by an “unqualified, unprepared, and ineffectual” trial attorney.
Michel was convicted in April on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.
He was accused of funneling money from a Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to stop a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
His trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel is free pending sentencing...
- 10/19/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
On April 20, attorney David Kenner delivered closing statements for Prakazrel “Pras” Michel in a closely watched fraud trial involving allegations that the Fugees founding member directed a sprawling conspiracy in which he funneled money from a Malaysian financier to a network of straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions to Barack Obama in 2012. But to the surprise of Michel’s new lawyers, who were retained after the artist was found guilty, Kenner’s first remarks to the jury appeared to be an admission of guilt.
“Ladies and gentleman, this case started back in 2012 when there was, as the government characterizes it, an effort to funnel money to President Obama’s reelection campaign,” Kenner said.
It turned out that Kenner used generative artificial intelligence to help craft his closing remarks, according to a court filing. Michel, who was convicted on charges of conspiring to make straw campaign donations and acting as an unregistered agent for China,...
“Ladies and gentleman, this case started back in 2012 when there was, as the government characterizes it, an effort to funnel money to President Obama’s reelection campaign,” Kenner said.
It turned out that Kenner used generative artificial intelligence to help craft his closing remarks, according to a court filing. Michel, who was convicted on charges of conspiring to make straw campaign donations and acting as an unregistered agent for China,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fugees’ Pras Michel is seeking a new trial in his federal conspiracy case, claiming that his former attorney is responsible for “ineffective representation,” which included using an AI program to write his closing argument.
The motion for a new trial was filed by Michel’s new legal team on Monday, October 16th. Among the allegations put forth by the motion against Michel’s previous lawyer, David Kenner, is a claim that Kenner “used an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) program to draft the closing argument, ignoring the best arguments and conflating the charged schemes, and he then publicly boasted that the AI program ‘turned hours or days of legal work into seconds’” (per Rolling Stone).
Further, the motion alleges that Kenner had “an undisclosed financial stake” in the AI program, and the usage of the program for Michel’s trial was done “so they could issue a press release afterward promoting...
The motion for a new trial was filed by Michel’s new legal team on Monday, October 16th. Among the allegations put forth by the motion against Michel’s previous lawyer, David Kenner, is a claim that Kenner “used an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) program to draft the closing argument, ignoring the best arguments and conflating the charged schemes, and he then publicly boasted that the AI program ‘turned hours or days of legal work into seconds’” (per Rolling Stone).
Further, the motion alleges that Kenner had “an undisclosed financial stake” in the AI program, and the usage of the program for Michel’s trial was done “so they could issue a press release afterward promoting...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
The Fugees’ Pras Michel is arguing he deserves a new trial in his federal conspiracy case in part because his original attorney provided “ineffective representation,” even allegedly using an AI program to draft his closing argument.
Back in April, Michel was convicted on 10 counts of conspiracy and falsifying records for his role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. The charges against him included money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations.
Michel has repeatedly denied the charges against him, and on Monday,...
Back in April, Michel was convicted on 10 counts of conspiracy and falsifying records for his role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. The charges against him included money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations.
Michel has repeatedly denied the charges against him, and on Monday,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Tory Lanez has filed a motion for a new trial after being found guilty of shooting music superstar Megan Thee Stallion on a California curbside in July 2020.
Lanez’s lawyers Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma cite multiple grounds in the new paperwork filed late Wednesday, including a claim that the judge “erroneously allowed” jurors to view a September 2020 Instagram post from Lanez’s personal account claiming Megan’s now-estranged best friend Kelsey Harris was not the shooter.
The filing, obtained by Rolling Stone, includes a declaration from Lanez’s content creator,...
Lanez’s lawyers Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma cite multiple grounds in the new paperwork filed late Wednesday, including a claim that the judge “erroneously allowed” jurors to view a September 2020 Instagram post from Lanez’s personal account claiming Megan’s now-estranged best friend Kelsey Harris was not the shooter.
The filing, obtained by Rolling Stone, includes a declaration from Lanez’s content creator,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Nancy Dillon, Jon Blistein and Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
As Tory Lanez awaits sentencing for assaulting Megan Thee Stallion with a semiautomatic firearm, a source tells Rolling Stone the “Luv” singer feels he was misled by his trial lawyer into not testifying in his own defense.
The well-placed source says Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, wanted to take the witness stand to plead his case directly to jurors but was dissuaded by lawyer George Mgdesyan in a decision Peterson now considers misguided.
Peterson, 30, was convicted of all three charges in his case on Dec. 23 and is facing...
The well-placed source says Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, wanted to take the witness stand to plead his case directly to jurors but was dissuaded by lawyer George Mgdesyan in a decision Peterson now considers misguided.
Peterson, 30, was convicted of all three charges in his case on Dec. 23 and is facing...
- 1/19/2023
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Tory Lanez is hoping Snoop Dogg’s former criminal lawyer can convince a Los Angeles judge he deserves a new trial after a Los Angeles jury found him guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
The “Luv” singer made his first post-conviction court appearance Tuesday and told the judge he wanted lawyers David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma to replace his outgoing trial attorney George Mgdesyan and Shawn Holley, his original defense lawyer who missed the trial due to a conflict.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was wearing an orange...
The “Luv” singer made his first post-conviction court appearance Tuesday and told the judge he wanted lawyers David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma to replace his outgoing trial attorney George Mgdesyan and Shawn Holley, his original defense lawyer who missed the trial due to a conflict.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was wearing an orange...
- 1/10/2023
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Suge Knight’s civil trial over allegations he negligently mowed down Terry Carter with his truck amid a dispute linked to the movie Straight Outta Compton ended in a mistrial Wednesday. Jurors deadlocked seven to five in favor of finding Knight liable. Carter’s family vowed to bring the case again.
“It was intense,” the jury foreman who asked to remain anonymous tells Rolling Stone. “It was so intense, someone walked by the jury room and thought a real fight had broken out. There was yelling.”
Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter,...
“It was intense,” the jury foreman who asked to remain anonymous tells Rolling Stone. “It was so intense, someone walked by the jury room and thought a real fight had broken out. There was yelling.”
Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter,...
- 6/22/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Jurors declared themselves “deadlocked” Friday at the California civil trial over whether Suge Knight should be held liable – and pay millions in damages – for killing married Compton dad Terry Carter with his Ford Raptor truck seven years ago amid a parking lot dispute with another man linked to the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton.
The jurors told the judge their vote was split seven-to-five without confirming which way they were leaning. They need nine votes out of 12 for a verdict in the wrongful death case centered on claims of negligence and battery.
The jurors told the judge their vote was split seven-to-five without confirming which way they were leaning. They need nine votes out of 12 for a verdict in the wrongful death case centered on claims of negligence and battery.
- 6/17/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Death Row Records founder Suge Knight should be forced to pay 81 million to the family of Terry Carter, a lawyer representing his widow and his two daughters told a Los Angeles County jury Tuesday. Knight was convicted of voluntary manslaughter when he ran over Carter with his Ford Raptor truck seven years ago after trying to meet with Dr. Dre on the set of Straight Outta Compton to discuss an alleged murder-for-hire plot.
It was the first time the lawyer, Lance Behringer, put a dollar figure on the Carter family...
It was the first time the lawyer, Lance Behringer, put a dollar figure on the Carter family...
- 6/14/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Appearing remotely from a cinderblock room painted neon white, jailed Death Row Records founder Suge Knight testified for the first time Wednesday about the day in early 2015 when he tried — but failed — to get a meeting with Dr. Dre at an office for the movie Straight Outta Compton and ended up barreling his truck into two men outside a nearby burger stand, killing one of them.
Knight, 57, is now serving a 28-year prison sentence for the deadly incident at Tam’s Burgers in Compton, California, that claimed the life of...
Knight, 57, is now serving a 28-year prison sentence for the deadly incident at Tam’s Burgers in Compton, California, that claimed the life of...
- 6/9/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Producer Steve Whitney and his company Tsw Films have purchased Suge Knight’s life rights with plans to develop a biopic on the infamous music mogul, bringing Nick Cassavetes and Anthony Thorne aboard to write the script.
The former music exec born Marion Hugh “Suge” Knight Jr. co-founded the iconic label Death Row Records in 1991 and is credited with bringing the subgenre of gangsta rap into the mainstream. Artists signed to the label included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog and Tupac Shakur—and those three acts alone changed the face of hip hop with the release of the groundbreaking albums The Chronic, Doggystyle and All Eyez on Me. Knight’s label had enormous success with over 50 artists and profits of over $100 million a year, but fell into bankruptcy after the departure of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog, the murder of Tupac and the 2018 incarceration of Knight on charges of voluntary manslaughter.
The former music exec born Marion Hugh “Suge” Knight Jr. co-founded the iconic label Death Row Records in 1991 and is credited with bringing the subgenre of gangsta rap into the mainstream. Artists signed to the label included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog and Tupac Shakur—and those three acts alone changed the face of hip hop with the release of the groundbreaking albums The Chronic, Doggystyle and All Eyez on Me. Knight’s label had enormous success with over 50 artists and profits of over $100 million a year, but fell into bankruptcy after the departure of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog, the murder of Tupac and the 2018 incarceration of Knight on charges of voluntary manslaughter.
- 12/20/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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