Feds shut rap studio in gang bust

By Frank Main
Crime Reporter
The Chicago Sun-Times

As the "king" of Chicago's notorious Black Disciples street gang, Marvel J. Thompson ran a recording studio, owned a lounge and even operated a pirate FM station that warned his underlings when the cops were coming, prosecutors say.

Thompson, 35, is accused of sitting at the helm of a massive criminal corporation that raked in as much as $300,000 a day in drug profits and kept its members in line with baseball bats and guns.

But a 185-page indictment unsealed Thursday is likely to dethrone Thompson and put dozens of his top leaders behind bars for a long time, said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

"These defendants are alleged to be not just drug dealers, but individuals who had their own laws, territory, justice system and economy," Fitzgerald said. "They operated as if they were an independent nation, subject only to the laws of the streets."

Chicago Police launched the investigation, code-named "Marvel Less," six years ago after a federal indictment decimated the hierarchy of another murderous organization, the Gangster Disciples. Police will monitor BD turf to make sure violence does not fill the vacuum created by arrests of the gang's leaders, said Police Supt. Phil Cline.

Chicago Police and federal agents executed a dozen search warrants Wednesday, seizing more than $300,000 in cash from one of Thompson's properties along with 11 guns, bulletproof vests, jewelry and boxes of gang documents, authorities said.

With the help of the Federal Communications Commission, they also shut down 104.7 FM, a station running out of a building Thompson owns at 6723-29 S. Parnell, officials said.

The station was automated most of the day, but it broadcast live at night, playing uncensored rap and even sending a car around Englewood to take requests and have listeners give "shout-outs" to friends over the radio. Its signal went from Cermak to 110th and from the lakefront to Western, said Larry Langford, a city spokesman. The city's Office of Emergency Communications helped authorities locate the station, which was broadcasting without a license, and record its illegal transmissions, he said.

"They played rap music, unedited, uncut," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Alesia. There were also "almost public service announcements to the other gang members alerting them to surveillance in certain areas of the South Side."

A studio for M.O.B. Records operated in the same building on Parnell, officials said. Thompson, president of M.O.B., produced "Cha-Cha Slide," a hit album.

The indictment charged 47 people with participating in a 15-year drug distribution conspiracy that could lead to sentences of 10 years to life. Thirty-two of the defendants, including Thompson, were in custody Thursday.

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Comments

[Selam Alem]

July 27,04

To: Mr. Christopher Rabb and others
From: Selam Alem

Good Morning Mr. Rabb: Thank you for your nice comment this morning on C-span. So, who do you write for? I wonder if I can read it from your web site if I can that will be great. I just need a little flavor.
I’m a single mother of very bright 16 year old daughter. Originally from Ethiopia, have had very interesting life specially since I moved to Rochester, MN from Los Angeles, CA. I do believe now there’s always a reason for everything.
I will do what I have to do for the voiceless people to be heard, but this time I have to play the game very smart. As there are many crooked people out there.
I heard Mr. Alphanso, secretary of HUD how some of us have a tendency of forgetting where we came from when we are up to the ladder.
I also heard Travis Smiley and some African American writers and educated people how it’s important for the media to share true stories.
I hope and pray that we’ll have more of Travis Smiley and some day I want to see some of you remember that some of us feel like we still living in 50’s there’s more to tell, there is more work to be done specially in cities like Rochester, MN and state of MN.
I always think if we all get involve we can reach out to others before it’s too late, we will not see too many of our brothers and sisters locked up in Jail or Psych unit.
Thank you.

July 2, 04
Is Justice for ALL?

It's very sad to see USA trying to bring Justice oversea, but when Justice for many people is not served right here on USA land.
The administration know very well there is serious problem in addressing Health Care issue, unemployment, human right issue and others. Instead of addressing those issues, so many government agencies give run around to people like a ball.
1. Why are so many medical doctors are allowed to deny medical treatment? Ex. State Rep. of Mississippi Mr. Earl Banks who is fighting by himself to address the issue but no one seems to understand what he's going through as a father, whose daughter is denied treatment?
2. why is it the government is not enforcing the law, when patient is denied emergency treatment and transported to another emergency treatment center?
3. People are continuously locked up in Psych Unite if they fight for what they believe, I don't think this is right at all.
4.Psych Unit, need serious study patients who are very sick needs to be cared that's why they are there, not to be ignored. Medical needs need to be addressed properly by medical doctors.
5. Human Right issue is ignored continuously inside psych unit, eg. Denying use of telephone, asking patient to be naked, lock patients up in seclusion with out a good reason at all.
6.What do we as citizens can do when we are sick, and our employment interrupted even after FMLA is completed?
7. When is the American Psychiatry Department is going to come up with Diagnostic procedure, for how long are they going to practice or diagnose patient based on trial and error? When the professionals are going to help in seeing the correlation of addiction of drug and alcohol to mental illness? I hope the MD congressman should try to pass that bill one more time?
8. How long are women's, disabled, and helpless people's voice going to be ignored?
9.How can we have PEACE with out having JUSTICE served? That's why we've so many shootings at government offices, just because people are denied what they deserve.
10. We claim that "Justice is for ALL" but justice is not served for all as poor people can not afford hiring lawyers, or they call it "conflict of interest" Legal offices can not take the case so, is Attorney General offices, or State Human Right office can’t reinforce the law so where can we go as citizen?
11. Bill Cosby is right, I always think there's serious issue needs to be addressed, with in the community, Family structure not only in African American family but for all groups.
12. I wonder when we are going to wake up and help those communities who hate others just they are from different clan, ethnic group or just they are different than them?
13. We talking in 21st century about Brown vs. Education dept., that problem still exist in different style, I as the only parent of my 16 year old child was asked to leave the school ground based on lie, but the school officials are refusing to investigate the event, just for the truth to be buried under the rug. So, as a parent if I'm seeing and hearing problems, but Public School administration ignore the issue then what kind of message they are sending to young bright child?
14. Why are employers allowed to discriminate people after they get out of jail saying they have Felony, Midst. etc? They can't do this job or that Job etc.
I think we as society we punish those people who we once thought they commit crime, so why are we punishing them instead or giving them a chance to stand up on their feet again?
15. I hope the media should be more open minded in addressing all these issues, as they are important for each one of us in handing over to the next generation.
16. We need more of Travis Smiley Show, and more of C-Span, PBS so that we all can be heard and get educated.
17. How can government expect the poor to pursue Higher education with sky high rising cost of Higher Education?
18. Bill Cosby is right about being Frozen, 2:30 laundry, beating--, minimum wage--, the truth always hurts, and we all have a tendency of not listening, being in denial when we hear it loud and clear.

I hope and pray that not only our elected officials but each one of us will take responsibility to take care of each other while our Government is bouncing us among agencies for justice to be served. Discrimination is so, bad right here in MN specially in Rochester what are others doing about it? Nothing? I don't think it's ever right to deny a single mother basic right to live, by denying county assistance, SSI, Short term Disability which was suppose to come through employer etc. I guess, mistakes has been made so many places, but who and which attorney will be out there to help me and others like me to fight for what we deserve instead of saying "conflict of interest, and closing all cases in State of MN? So, is it Federal, then how can I go on, when cases from 1995 and 1997 are coming back and hunting me in 2004? I was right to fight in 1997 with the county and state as they refused to talk to Immigration office. I am not ashamed to call Federal Food program and make them talk the two government agencies. Isn't it a harassment as a result of all of these to be pushed by a nurse during Asthma attack at Emergency Room?
Yes, I can't file it because some paper has to be filed by lawyers, I can't do it because there's no legal assistance office who can help me with that case? So, I guess in directly it's being denied Justice. I wonder how many people are pushed to the edge like me, no wonder why people are scared to say voice their opinion when something needs to be changed?
I'm not scared of nobody except God, as long as I don't break the Rules and Polices that are already on place, but how long do I have to go around against the system that is so corrupted? What can I teach my daughter, how to fight back as she is seeing me go through it, don't stop fighting for what you believe or some day Yes Justice will be served then we all have Peace? or do I have to lie to her?
It's the children who are hurt in all these mess, it's the children who are snatched off from their parents and put on the system, instead of helping families to work with the system raise up children at their home with their biological families and adoptive or foster parents?
It all boils down into "Money and Power", what we are failing is that when we die we don't go to our funeral with our prosperity, and fame. I wonder how long it'll take us to realize this and stop fighting over piece of land, money and power? I hope each one of us should try to see the best in each other instead of looking for difference and attack each other. I know deep down that everybody is trying to help but, I'm just caught in the middle of so called "Budget Cut" and fulfilling the promise what is made by USA government during Vietnam war for Laos and Hong people. It's ok to help others, but how come we who have been working and paying tax are denied SSI, or other assistance and those who just arrived last week over the sea they have program that there is money? Something is not right at all.
This will bring an issue why only 3 states are chosen to help to settle the refugees from Laos, and Hong who are coming from Thailand refugee camp? I wonder how much study has been done in addressing the issue of why the suicidal rate is high in Laos and Hmong community than others, at least that's what we mostly watch on the news. So, this will bring an issue that needs to be addressed that they need help, from each one of us but how can we bring problems when the counties and state is striving for money?
We can't solve problems by bringing more problems around the table, we have to find solutions for issues which is affecting Education, Child care, Health, Safety, and Justice. We can't really have Justice when we don't have enough public defenders to take cases carefully, for people who are locked up for different reason. I hope and pray that we all can try to see the problems try to help in what we can, otherwise it'll be like cancer that won't go away.
I wonder now if that day when justice will be served Will that day come, When Justice will be served?

Thank you.
Let Belief, hope, Love, Health, JUSTICE and PEACE be for ALL.

Selam Alem
Rochester, MN
507)288-1651
507)250-3372
Selamworld@aol.com