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FBI Probed Possible Extortion Of Eazy-E, Bureau Memos
Say Originally Published by MTVi's September 11, 2000Jewish Defense League offered security to Eazy-E when Suge Knight allegedly
threatened him, record official says.
Staff Writer Jahna Berry reports:The FBI mounted a two-and-a-half-year investigation
to determine whether associates of the Jewish Defense League tried to extort money from deceased N.W.A rapper Eazy-E and slain
rapper Tupac Shakur by making telephone death threats, according to documents recently released by the government agency.
The
probe, which extended from Oct. 17, 1996, until May 18, 1999, was closed after investigators failed to substantiate the allegations,
according to document excerpts, which are posted on www.thesmokinggun.com's "Archive" section.
Two unnamed informants told
the FBI that "Eric Wright, also known as Eazy-E, who owns Ruthless Records ... was a victim of this extortion scheme prior
to dying from AIDS." Also targeted was Shakur, "prior to his recent murder in Las Vegas," according to a heavily blacked out Jan. 3, 1997,
FBI memo.
Groundbreaking gangsta rap group N.W.A, which included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and M.C. Ren, along with Eazy-E, released
Straight Outta Compton in 1988. The album's title track (RealAudio excerpt) became a signature song for the group. Eazy-E,
who founded Ruthless Records, died in 1995. Shakur, another West Coast rapper who garnered national acclaim with his 1992
debut, 2pacalypse Now, was gunned down in a 1996 Las Vegas
shooting.
The FBI files outraged a spokesperson for the Jewish Defense League, as well as a former Ruthless Records executive.
They said the JDL offered Eazy-E protection in the early 1990s, after Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight allegedly threatened
the rapper. A spokesperson for Interscope, Shakur's label, who refused to be identified, declined to comment. Neither David
Kenner, Knight's attorney, nor representatives for Ruthless Records could be reached for comment.
The FBI letters blacked
out the names of the suspects and many other details of the investigation. However, the memos provide a sketchy picture of
a probe to uncover a group that allegedly worked for the JDL and possibly targeted several unnamed rappers. For example, the
Jan. 3 memo said Eazy-E paid a security consultant $1,000 per week as a result of death threats. The initial FBI inquiry was
upgraded to a "Full Field Investigation" in 1997, but the case was closed in May 1999.
The case was "extensively investigated,"
according to a May 18, 1999, memo, but the extortion allegation against the unnamed suspects was "not substantiated," the
memo stated. JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin, who had not read the documents, and who was unaware of the investigation, expressed
amazement at the allegations. "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the League, Rubin said.
The
Defense League offered to provide bodyguards to Eazy-E when Knight allegedly threatened him in the early 1990s, said Mike
Klein, former director of business affairs at Ruthless Records. At the time, Knight and Eazy-E were involved in a legal dispute
over the work Dr. Dre had done at Ruthless, Klein said. Knight is in prison for violating probation in connection with a 1992
attack on two aspiring rappers; he is scheduled to be released in May.
FBI spokesperson Linda Colton confirmed that the
agency released the 170-page file to thesmokinggun.com in response to the site's written Freedom of Information Act request
but declined to comment on the investigation. The 1975 Freedom of Information Act legislation gave the public broader access
to certain government documents and FBI investigation files. Eazy-E/Tupac Shakur documents are available to the public via
written requests because the two rappers are deceased, Colton
said.
Posted on Sat, Nov. 02, 2002
Lawyers for JDL leader waIn papers filed this week in U.S.
District Court, Rubin's lawyers called the FBI probe another example of the government's bias against their client, who is
charged along with associate Earl Krugel of plotting to bomb a mosque and the office of Arab American U.S. Rep. Darrell E.
Issa, R-Calif.The extortion allegations first surfaced in September 1996 when an FBI agent was interviewing a confidential
informant about the 1985 murder of Alex Odeh, director of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee's West Coast office
in Santa Ana, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.The informant outlined the scheme, saying the JDL planned to make death
threats against Shakur and Eazy-E, whose real name is Eric Wright, and then contact the rappers, offering them protection,
according to the Times, who cited documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.Another informant corroborated the
allegations and named the JDL as the group involved, the Times said. The FBI probe ended in 1999 after the allegations could
not be substantiated.Defense attorney Peter Morris said Friday he was unaware whether Rubin had performed security work for
Shakur, who was killed in a 1996 shooting in Las Vegas, or
Wright, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. Krugel's lawyer, Mark Werksman, said his client, a dental hygienist,
has had nothing to do with anyone in the rap industry.Last month, Rubin's attorneys filed a similar motion involving the Odeh
investigation, saying the FBI was "out to get" Rubin because it could not implicate him in the murder. Rubin, who has publicly
denied any involvement, was called to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Odeh's slaying, which remains unsolved.Krugel,
59, and Rubin, 56, were arrested Dec. 11 after an FBI informant delivered an explosive powder that authorities believed was
the last component in making pipe bombs.Both men face sentences of at least 40 years in prison if convicted.Krugel's defense
is that he was illegally entrapped by a former league member turned government informer. Prosecutors are expected to present
evidence that Krugel was involved in at least two previous bombing plots.LOS ANGELES - In a bizarre twist to the case of a
right-wing Jewish leader accused of trying to blow up Muslim-related sites, defense attorneys have requested records of an
FBI (news - web sites) probe into whether the suspect's group tried to shake down rap stars Tupac Shakur and Eazy-E. Jewish
Defense League leader Irv Rubin is being held without bail along with group member Earl Krugel on charges of plotting to blow
up a mosque and the office of an Arab American congressman. They have pleaded innocent. In papers filed this week in U.S.
District Court, Rubin's lawyers asked a judge to order prosecutors to hand over records of the FBI probe, claiming it provides
evidence of government bias against the league. An informant outlined the alleged extortion scheme during FBI interviews in
1996 about the murder of a figure in the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Los
Angeles Times reported Saturday. The informant said the JDL planned to make death threats against Shakur
and Eazy-E, then offer them protection for a fee, the Times said, citing documents obtained under the Freedom of Information
Act. The FBI probe ended in 1999 after the claims could not be substantiated, according to the newspaper. Defense attorney
Peter Morris said Friday he did not know if Rubin had performed security work for Shakur, who was killed in a 1996 shooting
in Las Vegas, or Eazy-E, who died of AIDS (news - web sites)-related complications in 1995. Krugel's lawyer, Mark Werksman,
said his client has had nothing to do with anyone in the rap industry. Last month, Rubin's attorneys filed a similar motion
involving the probe into the murder of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee figure, Alex Odeh, saying the FBI was
"out to get" Rubin because it could not implicate him in the 1985 slaying. Rubin has publicly denied any involvement in the
slaying, which remains unsolved.
Krugel, 59, and Rubin, 56, were arrested Dec. 11. They face at least 40 years in prison if convicted.
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CLUB REVIEWS
Address: 275 Pentonville Road' King's Cross' London N1 9NL
Music: DJ's: Brandon Block & Alex P PhilGood
& Ram Rob Blake Huckleberry Finn and too many more to mention.
Details: Saturday 27 August 2005 If you have
not been to The Scala, let me explain the layout. On entry you arrive in the main foyer, with a bar and cloak room. This is
also a little spot in its own right, many people chill out here. This leads directly on to a very small room, which looks
laughable at first but can actually get quite a vibe going on at different points of the night. Aside from this there are
two larger rooms/areas, both of which are big enough to be clubs in their own right. You will find different DJ's / music
playing in all 3 rooms, all night. I have been to this spot more than a few times and guess I have a bit of a love hate relationship
with it. I love the fact it’s big with lots of passageways and different rooms with their own vibes. I hate the fact
that they are thieving B*&^ards for charging 20 notes on the door. Also, don’t even bother trying to ring the club
for any info on music, dress code or anything else for that matter, as all you will get is a very unhelpful recorded message.
Having said all that...... Promised Land (27th, Aug, carnival weekend) was one of the best jams I have been to in a while.
I didn’t even think I could get into oldskool anymore and when you consider we were drinking watered down spirits for
hours before waking up and switching to Beer and Shots you can see it must have been good! On arrival at the venue I was a
little worried. There is usually a queue stretching right round the corner but on this night there were just 3 people. I figured
it must be empty and further more rubbish and was a little hesitant to hand over my cash. Eventually I said f it and went
in anyway and got to drinking.... As we walked into the main entrance it soon became clear my fears were misplaced, the spot
was bustling and everything looked cool. Now I don’t know if I was just in the right mood as it was Carnival weekend
or what, but I soon caught the vibes and got into things. As did everyone else. The place was buzzing, everyone seemed to
be in the mood to party and the DJ's were feeding the crowd. Everyone was happy and on a good vibe, some no doubt chemically
assisted but all the same there was a good vibe and that will do me. While I can’t say I was feeling all the stuff I
heard they defiantly dropped some classics. With a line up featuring some Legendary oldskool DJ's, I was hoping for some good
stuff and all in all I was not disappointed. For me, it all kicked off when I heard the unmistakable bleeps and wicked bass
line of the "One Tribe" classic, "What have you done". This took me back. It’s always been one of my favourites, just
for the way it starts. This was closely followed by "We are E". It was all over!!! We spent the night Moving between the two
main rooms and the little side room. I can safely say it was a real good night and defiantly made a change to most of the
crap R&B-ullsh%$ clubs I have been finding myself in lately. A shout out to the Promised Land Cru and the Passion FM Cru,
Ill catch you at Koko. (24th sept)
Rating:
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