Fort Worth rapper Twisted Black was sentenced to life in prison, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
In July 2006, Twisted Black, born Tommy Burns, was arrested and charged by officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Midland, Texas, shortly after signing a deal with New York based independent record label TVT Records.
According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, government witness Courtney Iglehart testified that he and another aspiring rapper, Zeteral "Zet" Perkins met Twisted Black, who was driving a silver Corvette.
In Feb. 2005, Iglehart testified that he followed Twisted Black and Zet to Twisted Black's studio, where the rapper sold Iglehart a quarter kilogram of cocaine in February 2005.
Iglehart, 23, is already serving a 10-year sentence for dealing crack.
Zet was also convicted in September of 2005 by a federal jury for conspiracy, possession and intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack. He was sentenced to 22-years in February.
Another witness testified that Twisted Black and Zet were dealing up to a kilo of cocaine every three weeks over the course of 2005.
According to testimony, Twisted Black, Zet and members of their entourage had no problems flashing their ill-gotten proceeds.
In one incident, Twisted Black and Zet performed at a local club where they threw $100 bills in the audience.
Another member of Twisted Black's entourage that testfied against the rapper said he lit his cigarettes with $100 bills, because he was "doing all right at the time."
Twisted Black started his rap career in 1991 as a member of the Forth Worth group, One Gud Cide. In 1995 the group released Look What The Streets Made, which led to a deal with Tony Draper's Suave House Records.
As the group was preparing their debut Contradictions, Twisted Black was sentenced to three years in prison. In 1998 he suffered another setback, when he was shot in the face.
He kept recording, releasing Late Bloomer, which led to a deal with TVT Records in July 2006, shortly before he was arrested on the cocaine charges.
Twisted Black's untitled TVT debut is slated to hit stores in 2007.
In July 2006, Twisted Black, born Tommy Burns, was arrested and charged by officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Midland, Texas, shortly after signing a deal with New York based independent record label TVT Records.
According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, government witness Courtney Iglehart testified that he and another aspiring rapper, Zeteral "Zet" Perkins met Twisted Black, who was driving a silver Corvette.
In Feb. 2005, Iglehart testified that he followed Twisted Black and Zet to Twisted Black's studio, where the rapper sold Iglehart a quarter kilogram of cocaine in February 2005.
Iglehart, 23, is already serving a 10-year sentence for dealing crack.
Zet was also convicted in September of 2005 by a federal jury for conspiracy, possession and intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack. He was sentenced to 22-years in February.
Another witness testified that Twisted Black and Zet were dealing up to a kilo of cocaine every three weeks over the course of 2005.
According to testimony, Twisted Black, Zet and members of their entourage had no problems flashing their ill-gotten proceeds.
In one incident, Twisted Black and Zet performed at a local club where they threw $100 bills in the audience.
Another member of Twisted Black's entourage that testfied against the rapper said he lit his cigarettes with $100 bills, because he was "doing all right at the time."
Twisted Black started his rap career in 1991 as a member of the Forth Worth group, One Gud Cide. In 1995 the group released Look What The Streets Made, which led to a deal with Tony Draper's Suave House Records.
As the group was preparing their debut Contradictions, Twisted Black was sentenced to three years in prison. In 1998 he suffered another setback, when he was shot in the face.
He kept recording, releasing Late Bloomer, which led to a deal with TVT Records in July 2006, shortly before he was arrested on the cocaine charges.
Twisted Black's untitled TVT debut is slated to hit stores in 2007.
