Reflecting a spreading national concern among defense attorneys, a heated legal battle is being waged in a Brooklyn federal court over the admission of an alleged gang leader’s violent rap lyrics and videos in his upcoming murder and racketeering trial.
Eastern District Judge Nicholas Garaufis (See Profile) is likely to rule on the issue before opening arguments get underway in the prosecution of Ronald Herron, whose rapper name is Ra Diggs, who faces life in prison on charges of murder, racketeering and other counts as the alleged head of Murderous Mad Dogs, an arm of the Bloods. Jury selection in U.S. v. Herron, 10-cr-615, is scheduled to begin April 29.
