James Rosemond aka Jimmy Henchman built his empire in the music industry after founding Czar Entertainment, managing the likes of The Game, Brandy, Gucci Mane, Salt-n-Pepa, Akon and more. Henchman was also integral in negotiating the 2002 bout between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis as well as being on of the founders of the How Can I Be Down music conference. A few years ago, Henchman was sentenced to several life sentences after being convicted of running a drug trafficking ring and murder-for-hire.
Currently behind bars, Henchman is looking for a new trial, claiming that the government’s star witness, Henry Butler, the brother-in-law of Lee Daniels (Empire), received benefits in order to testify against him. In a statement sent to HipHopWired.com, Henchman’s reps allege that former Assistant U.S. Attorney and current State Senator Todd Kaminsky used unethical methods to ensure his conviction.
Statement to HipHopWired.com:
“Rosemond became a target of federal prosecutors because of his entertainment business and connections to high profile names in the hip hop industry who the government wanted Rosemond to turn in. He refused. Although he was never found with any money or drugs in his possession, nor was any evidence produced during a two-year wire tap on his phones and in his office, the government was intent on naming Rosemond as a drug kingpin. That designation ensured a high profile prosecution and a significantly long prison sentence. The only evidence against Rosemond was circumstantial, supplied by prosecution witnesses all of whom were offered deals, like Butler, in return for their testimony.”
“James Rosemond said, “The government and its prosecutor, now state senate candidate, Todd Kaminsky, used underhanded and unethical methods against me to secure my guilty verdict. I have lost everything. All the money I made as a legitimate music industry businessman, and now my freedom. I feel that I was prosecuted to the extent to which I was, in large measure, because of my role in the Hip Hop industry and the ability of the government to gain so much notoriety on my case.”
Jimmy Henchman has long be implicated in the 1994 New York City shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur, even being name checked in the rappers 1996 song “Against All Odds.”
