DESPITE being unable to take up his US$200,000 bail, deejay Flippa Mafia (Flippa Mogella) remains hopeful ahead of his pre-trial appearance in the Camden County Superior Court in New Jersey, on November 17.
The flamboyant entertainer, whose given name is Andrew Davis, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, leading a narcotics organisation, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
The entertainer pleaded “not guilty” to all charges when he appeared in court early September. A trial date of January 26 has been set.
The deejay’s attorney, J Michael Farrell described his client’s state of mind as “hopeful”.
“The charges against Mr Andrew Davis are significant. However, we remain hopeful,” Farrell told the Jamaica Observer.
The defence attorney said he will attempt to get some of the charges dismissed at next month’s hearing.
“It’s at this time that we will litigate our motion to suppress the electronic wiretap interceptions. We will also argue a motion to dismiss the leader of the narcotics organisation count of the indictment,” said Farrell.
According to the attorney, Flippa Mafia’s bail has stringent stipulations.
“More significantly, however, is an immigration detainer, which, to date, has influenced the court to deny bail reductions,” said Farrell.
Paul Loriquet, director of communications at the Office of the Attorney General, said the artist may be required to attend court several times before his January date.
“We had our pre-trial conference on September 2. Motions are being briefed and we will likely to be in court on one or more occasions to litigate the motions between now and the trial date,” he said.
Mafia and his brother, Kemar Davis, were among 15 people indicted by a state grand jury in January 2014 in connection with an alleged international drug ring that used the postal service and other delivery services to ship cocaine from California to New Jersey. He was arrested on September 16, 2013 in a dragnet dubbed ‘Operation Next Day Air’.
Flippa Mafia, also called the Flossing King, is known to dancehall fans for hurling hundreds of dollar notes into the crowd during his performances.
In an interview with the Observer in December 2012, Mafia said his banquet hall and nightclub in Philadelphia were his main source of income.
“I have been throwing cash for years, so if that was the case there wouldn’t be a need to be doing it now. There are some entertainers who will ‘floss’ their money, take drugs among other things. I just do whatever makes me happy,” he added.
Growing up in Waterhouse, St Andrew, Mafia attended Norman Manley High School in St Andrew. His better known songs are Unfinished House, Star ah Star and Hear mi Hear.
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