Latest news with #TerranceDixon
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe Sued For $20M By Ex-Hypeman Alleging Sex Acts With Minors, Psychological Coercion, And More
Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon, longtime hype man for Fat Joe, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Bronx rapper of an array of egregious misconduct — including underage sexual exploitation, coercion, financial fraud, and violent intimidation. The suit comes after the 'Lean Back' rapper filed a lawsuit against Dixon in April for extortion after the defendant publicly accused Joe of being a 'pedophile' and cheating on his wife with reality TV star Erica Mena. According to Variety, the 157-page complaint, filed Thursday (June 20) in New York, outlines years of alleged abuse and manipulation that Dixon says unfolded behind the scenes while he supported Fat Joe on and off stage. Dixon is seeking $20,000,000 in damages, asserting that his former boss — real name, Joseph Antonio Cartagena — engaged in 'coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.' The suit alleges that despite his input as a lyricist, vocalist, and performer on tracks like 'Congratulations,' 'Ice Cream,' and 'Money Over Bi**hes,' Dixon was uncredited and unpaid. Even more disturbing are Dixon's claims that Fat Joe engaged in sexual activity with underage girls, referencing three specific Jane Does — one of whom was allegedly flown to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic in exchange for cash, clothes, and phone bills. The suit claims that Dixon 'personally witnessed [Fat Joe] engage in sexual relations with children who were fifteen and sixteen years old.' According to the legal documents, Minor Doe 2 is described as a Caucasian female and a non-U.S. citizen who allegedly began a sexual relationship with the defendant at age 15 following a concert overseas. The suit claims Fat Joe flew her to New York City and Miami on multiple occasions. The documents further allege that due to Minor Doe 2's adolescent and undeveloped body, the defendant paid for her to undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift. Allegedly, she eventually cut ties with him and is now reportedly married to a professional athlete. Meanwhile, Minor Doe 3 is described as a Latina female who allegedly met the defendant when she was 15, approaching her 16th birthday. According to Dixon's lawsuit, Joe was allegedly infatuated with Minor Doe 3 to the point of considering leaving his wife. The filing claims he covered all of her expenses, flew her out to various tour stops overseas, and even set her up in a Florida condo just blocks away from the home he shared with his wife. In a recorded conversation cited in the complaint, Minor Doe 3 and her then-15-year-old cousin reportedly described to Dixon how disturbing and inappropriate it was for Joe to allegedly have been fixated on underage girls. The lawsuit includes accusations of orchestrated orgies, coerced sexual acts under surveillance, and threats of retaliation to witnesses — including alleged messages like 'You love your family, right?' and 'We let you live.' Dixon is represented by Tyrone Blackburn, the same attorney leading civil litigation against Sean 'Diddy' Combs. In response, Fat Joe's attorney Joe Tacopina vehemently denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit an 'act of retaliation' and part of a coordinated attempt to extort the rapper. Tacopina says law enforcement is already aware of the 'extortionate demand' and vowed to hold Dixon and Blackburn accountable. 'The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure,' Tacopina stated. 'Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated.' The suit comes just months after Fat Joe sued Dixon in April, claiming the former hypeman defamed him online and tried to shake him down for a settlement. According to Variety, Dixon thinks his lawsuit is the only way to hold the rapper accountable, saying, 'This is the right way to fight Joe — through the system. You can't fight him no other way. Joe think he's a god. Joe thinks he's untouchable.' Dixon has requested a jury trial. More from Fat Joe Files Extortion Lawsuit Against Former Hypeman After 'Pedophile' Claims Fat Joe, Jadakiss, REFORM Alliance, And Sei Less Host Father's Day Lunch For Families Impacted By Criminal Justice System Jadakiss Reflects On The Lox, Dipset 'Verzuz' Battle: "I Was Out Of My Mind"
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe's Attorney Responds After Lawyer Tyrone Blackburn's Arrest For Assault On Process Server
On Monday (June 23), Fat Joe's legal team confirmed that attorney Tyrone Blackburn — who is representing Terrance Dixon, Joe's ex-hypeman — was arrested and charged with second-degree assault. The charge stems from an incident where Blackburn reportedly struck a process server with his vehicle while attempting to dodge being served with legal documents. According to Joe's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, the moment unfolded as a process server approached Blackburn to deliver a lawsuit tied to an April 2025 filing. Rather than accept the papers, Blackburn allegedly tried to flee the scene, hitting the server with his car in the process. Although he was ultimately served, Blackburn's decision to resort to physical evasion has now landed him in cuffs. In the suit filed earlier this year by Joe, it names both Blackburn and Dixon, accusing them of extortion, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. At the heart of the claim is a demand letter sent to Joe in March, in which Blackburn and Dixon alleged that Dixon had served as a 'ghostwriter and uncredited vocalist' on several of Fat Joe's songs and asked for payment. The 'Lean Back' rapper's legal team dismissed the demands as fraudulent, but received a second complaint threatening a lawsuit packed with what Fat Joe's lawyers called 'false and outrageous allegations,' including claims of statutory rape, sex trafficking, and fraud. Once a warrant was issued for Blackburn's arrest, the lawyer and Dixon filed a retaliatory lawsuit against the rapper, a move Joe's team says was just another calculated effort to smear his name. Tacopina spoke with VIBE about the recent arrest, stating that the news came as no surprise. 'Our team's reaction is that it's not a surprise at all,' Tacopina said. 'Normally, a lawyer getting arrested would be sort of shocking. Here, it's not shocking at all, because it's just the latest example of his conduct. His malicious, manipulative conduct — or misconduct — that's what I'll call it … he's an embarrassment to the legal community, he really is.' Tacopina referenced past disciplinary concerns raised by federal judges, citing patterns of behavior he believes demonstrate a bad legal strategy. 'Two federal judges have recently excoriated him. The way he'll file a suit almost just to embarrass someone, to get publicity for himself, to get money, and then the suit falls flat on its face.' According to Tacopina, the conduct surrounding the case further calls Blackburn's credibility into question. 'Unfortunately for him, he's run to the wrong defendant and wrong defense team, because we're not going to puss around, the truth will come out here and he's going to wind up in a very difficult position.' In terms of potential courtroom impact, Tacopina believes Blackburn's legal history may play a role. 'I think the judge will have taken into consideration all the conduct of the lawyers before the court, because that's just part of the credibility of any advocate,' he said. 'If a federal judge wrote about me, what she wrote about him, I would quit law. I'd go make espressos at Starbucks or something. I would die. But, he's just oblivious to this stuff.' Tacopina pointed to the arrest as further reflection of Blackburn's character. Despite the accusations and media attention, Tacopina said the Terror Squad boss is in good spirits and focused on moving forward. 'Joe's a great guy, I've known him for a long time. As we say, tough times don't last, tough people do,' he said. 'This is not fun for anyone to go through, even if it's completely false, which it is. But, he still has to go through it.' He added, 'I spoke to him today, he was very positive, he has got a good outlook. But this is something now he has to deal with, false allegations from someone who has zero credibility and does things just to garner publicity for himself.' As for the case itself, Tacopina firmly believes there is no legal risk to his client. 'He's not going to be found liable. There's no scenario where Joe would be found liable in this case. An allegation is just an allegation, especially a civil allegation,' he continued. 'This is just some guy making a claim to get money. But yet that being said, it's still very difficult for him, because he's got all these deals with different companies, and he's the face of different things.' Tacopina concluded by casting doubt on the defendants' ability to cover any potential financial fallout, as well. 'There are damages that are piling up, and I don't know where Tyrone Blackburn, and Mr. Dixon are going to get the money to pay Joe back, because I'm sure together they don't have enough to cover any of the damages.' The arrest is also not Blackburn's first. In April 2024, Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York referred him to the grievance committee for allegedly filing cases in federal court not to seek justice, but to bring media attention and pressure settlements with sensational claims. Just a month before Joe's initial lawsuit, Judge J. Paul Oetken also took issue with Blackburn's behavior, citing 'inaccurate statements of law' and 'irrelevant insults, misstatements, and exaggerations' in his legal filings. More from Fat Joe Sued For $20M By Ex-Hypeman Alleging Sex Acts With Minors, Psychological Coercion, And More Fat Joe, Jadakiss, REFORM Alliance, And Sei Less Host Father's Day Lunch For Families Impacted By Criminal Justice System Former NBA Star Shawn Kemp Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge For 2023 Shooting
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rapper Fat Joe's Sex With Minor Case Takes A Shocking Turn With Lawyer's Arrest
The attorney leveling scathing claims against Fat Joe on behalf of a former employee just got himself in trouble with the law. Tyrone Blackburn, the lawyer representing Terrance Dixon, has been arrested for assault just days after he filed a $20 million lawsuit against the rapper. The legal complaint featured numerous accusations, including claims of Fat Joe being a pedophile and allegedly attempting to murder 50 Cent. Fat Joe's issues with Dixon took a shocking turn on Wednesday, June 25, when his accuser's attorney was arrested. A rep for the New York Police Department confirmed the news, noting Blackburn was taken into custody in the morning and booked for assault. Although he was recently arrested, the lawyer's legal drama started last month following a violence report. According to the rep, the incident occurred on the night of May 12 when Blackburn met a 66-year-old messenger hired by the rapper's attorney, Joe Tacopina. The older messenger had been hired to serve Blackburn with a complaint in Joe's case, but the legal rep did not react positively to the news. TMZ reported that he allegedly jumped into his car, pushed it in reverse, and backed up, hitting the server in the leg and causing a minor injury. Blackburn's arrest comes days after he filed a scathing lawsuit against Fat Joe on behalf of his former employee, Dixon. They sued the rapper for $20 million, alleging that he was a pedophile and owed Dixon money for co-written songs, among other claims. Before this lawsuit became public, the rapper's attorney, Tacopina, alleged that Blackburn had initially sent a demand letter for $3 million. The lawyer claimed his client was owed the sum for allegedly co-writing music with the Hip-Hop star. However, Tacopina brushed off the claim. The 54-year-old's legal rep noted that Blackburn did not accept his refusal and sent another demand letter with pedophile allegations. These letters pushed Tacopina to file a defamation and extortion lawsuit against Blackburn and Dixon, leading to the May incident between the older messenger and the lawyer. The Blast covered Dixon's allegations against the hip-hop star, reporting that he accused him of having inappropriate relationships with minors. The lawsuit alleged that at least two underage females had sexual relationships with the rapper, while the third was in a romantic relationship with him. According to the claims, a 16-year-old girl of Dominican descent once offered to perform oral sex and other sexual acts on the rapper if he paid her clothing and phone bills. He also had an alleged sexual affair with a 15-year-old Caucasian girl after meeting her at a concert abroad. Dixon accused Joe of paying for this girl's BBL because her body wasn't fully developed, claiming he regularly flew her to New York and Miami. He added that the Caucasian girl had grown up to marry a professional athlete. As for the third underage, the rapper fell head over heels for the Latina. Dixon claimed the hitmaker was so in love with the underage Latina girl that a sexual relationship between them began when she was 15. He allegedly paid all her expenses and took her aboard whenever he was on tour. Additionally, Fat Joe bought the girl a condo near where he and his wife lived in Florida and allegedly considered leaving his partner to move in with the young girl. Dixon claimed the rapper was not only a pedophile but had also forced him to sleep with women before an audience. However, Joe's corner has vehemently denied the allegations. His legal rep, Tacopina, slammed the lawsuit as "lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure." The rapper also received 50 Cent's support after he was name-dropped in the legal drama. Besides accusing Fat Joe of pedophilia, Dixon claimed the entertainer had considered murdering 50 Cent during their feud in the early 2000s. His allegations, per Hiphopdx, read: "[Fat Joe] engaged in a calculated and premeditated conspiracy to murder rapper Curtis Jackson. But 50 Cent was surrounded by 'Navy Seal' type security, and the would-be assassins were afraid to make the attempt." Despite Dixon's claims, 50 Cent called BS in a heated social media post defending Fat Joe. The "Candy Shop" hitmaker stressed that he did not believe the allegations, labeling them "baseless" and "not credible." He also sympathized with Fat Joe, noting he did not deserve "the public scrutiny and damage to his reputation."
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Attorney for Fat Joe's former hype man accused of hitting man delivering legal documents with his vehicle
An attorney representing the former hype man of rapper Fat Joe has been arrested and accused of hitting a man with his car who was delivering legal documents in the latest installment of a messy legal saga. Attorney Tyrone Blackburn, who is representing Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon in the case against the rapper, was served with a legal complaint from Fat Joe's team on May 12 in New York. He's accused of putting his car in reverse and hitting the 66-year-old process server in the leg, according to TMZ. The New York Police Department confirmed Blackburn was taken into custody Wednesday morning and booked for assault after the process server went to the police. Blackburn is representing Dixon in seeking $20 million in damages from Fat Joe, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, accusing the rapper of engaging in 'coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.' Fat Joe denies the allegations and hit back against the lawsuit with his own, alleging extortion, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. These were reportedly the documents being served to Blackburn when the alleged assault took place. The Independent has contacted Blackburn for comment. Fat Joe's attorney, Joe Tacopina, told Vibe that Blackburn's arrest 'is not a surprise at all.' 'Normally, a lawyer getting arrested would be sort of shocking. Here, it's not shocking at all, because it's just the latest example of his conduct,' Tacopina said. 'His malicious, manipulative conduct — or misconduct — that's what I'll call it … he's an embarrassment to the legal community, he really is.' Blackburn's arrest is the latest incident that stems from the complex legal fight between Dixon and Fat Joe. Dixon served as Fat Joe's hype man for 16 years, energizing the crowd before and during performances. In his $20 million lawsuit against Fat Joe, Dixon alleged the rapper forced him 'into humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment in foreign countries if [he] refused compliance.' Dixon further alleged 'he was coerced into more than 4,000 sexual acts to maintain his standing within the Enterprise.' The lawsuit also alleged that Dixon 'personally witnessed [Fat Joe] engage in sexual relations with children who were 15 and 16 years old,' which the rapper denies. 'Fat Joe is Sean Combs minus the Tusi,' Blackburn previously told The Independent. 'He learned nothing from his 2013 federal conviction,' Blackburn continued, referring to Fat Joe's four months behind bars for failing to file income tax returns. Fat Joe's lawyer told The Independent the claims from Dixon and Blackburn are 'a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.' Tacopina also said that Blackburn is the subject of a pending referral to the Southern District's disciplinary committee. 'Law enforcement is aware of the extortionate demand at the heart of this scheme,' he said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe accused of sex acts with minors in $20 million lawsuit filed by former hype man, rapper denies allegations
Fat Joe is denying all allegations of exploitation and abuse made by his former hype man in a newly filed $20 million lawsuit. Terrance "T.A." Dixon filed the suit against the 54-year-old rapper in federal court on Thursday, alleging that his former boss — whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena — engaged in "coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion." The complaint, obtained by Entertainment Weekly, includes Fat Joe's codefendants, Peter "Pistol Pete" Torres and Richard "Rich Player" Jospitre, referring to them as key associates in the musician's "criminal enterprise," as well as Erica Juliana Moreira, a lawyer for Fat Joe. In it, Dixon claims that his work went beyond that of a hype man, with him serving as a writer and background vocalist on tracks like "Congratulations," "Ice Cream," and "Money Over Bitches." He also alleges that despite being a foundational element in the rapper's career for 16 years, Fat Joe and his associates systematically suppressed, silenced, and erased his contributions. He also claims that he has never been properly compensated for his work, and is seeking $20 million in damages. "Fat Joe is Sean Combs minus the Tusi," Dixon's attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, said in a statement to EW on Friday. Blackburn is also currently the lead counsel in a high-profile case against hip-hop artist Sean "Diddy" Combs on behalf of accuser Lil Rodney. "As with most criminals, Fat Joe is pretty dumb, as displayed in the pleading," Blackburn added. "We have three additional pages of predicated acts, which would make the 24 in the complaint look like child's play. Fat Joe has a lot of explaining to do." Fat Joe's team has vehemently denied Dixon's allegations. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that Dixon was forced "into humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment in foreign countries if [he] refused compliance." According to his estimation in the complaint, he "was coerced into more than 4,000 sexual acts to maintain his standing within the Enterprise." The suit alleges that the "wide spectrum of sexual coercion, psychological control, forced exhibitionism, and surveillance-based humiliation" were "tactics designed to control Plaintiff's body, erode his autonomy, and ensure silence." "These sex-based abuses were not private, incidental, or isolated," the complaint continues. "They were integral to the enterprise's culture of dominance and humiliation, enforced by Defendant's associates such as Pistol Pete, [UPNYC store manager] JB, and others, and sustained across numerous tour locations including Miami, North Carolina, Germany, Spain, and Wisconsin." The most damning and disturbing accusations in the complaint include several centered on Fat Joe's alleged sexual relations with minors. It claims that Dixon "personally witnessed [Fat Joe] engage in sexual relations with children who were 15 and 16 years old" and lists three alleged examples of underage girls identified as "Minor Does." Minor Doe 1 is described as a 16-year-old Dominican girl from New York, who, according to the lawsuit, "would [perform] oral sex and other sexual acts" for the rapper in exchange for "cash, clothing, and payment of her cell phone bill." Minor Doe 2 is described as a Caucasian female who is not an American citizen and allegedly met Fat Joe when she was 15 years old after a concert overseas. "Defendant flew Minor Doe 2 to New York City and Miami, Florida, on multiple occasions," the complaint reads. "Due to Minor Doe 2's body being adolescent and not fully formed, Defendant paid for her to get a Brazilian Butt Lift. Minor Doe 2 eventually left Defendant and is now married to a professional athlete." Minor Doe 3 is described as a Latina female who allegedly met the rapper when "she was 15 years old, turning 16." According to the suit, the rapper was "in love with Minor Doe 3" and even contemplated leaving his wife for her. "The Defendant paid all Minor Doe 3's bills and even took her overseas to his tour stops," the lawsuit claims. "He brought her to Florida and would put her up in a condo he rented a few blocks from his house with his wife. In a recorded conversation, Minor Doe 3 and her 15-year-old cousin describe in detail to Plaintiff how 'inappropriate' it was for Defendant, who was in his late 30s at the time, to be fawning over children." The complaint also alleges that Fat Joe engaged in money laundering and tax evasion schemes, including artificially inflating Dixon's tax liabilities "in an effort to conceal their extensive wage theft," exposing him to unwarranted tax audits and penalties, and systematically obscuring the exploited labor. The suit additionally names Jay-Z's Roc Nation as a defendant, claiming that the company, which represents Fat Joe, knowingly participated in "concealing, transferring, and manipulating" Dixon's authorship rights and royalty interests and sought to intimidate, harass, and obstruct the hype man's legitimate claims against Fat Joe, Torres, and Jospitre. Jordan Siev, an attorney at Reed Smith LLP who works with Roc Nation, called the complaint "bogus" in a statement to EW on Friday. "Dixon worked for Joe for many years until 2019. During the time since he left in 2019, there were no complaints about what he was paid or any supposed mistreatment," Siev said. "He made up a whole bunch of claims in a money grab. Joe took the affirmative step of filing a lawsuit for defamation against Dixon in April, and also against Dixon's lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, for intentional infliction of emotional distress. So nothing happens for two months, and then out of nowhere, this lawsuit comes up yesterday, which is clearly in retaliation for the filing made — and clearly ignores the facts." Siev also cited a recent ruling by a New York federal judge that criticized Blackburn's litigation strategy in the Combs case and noted that Fat Joe's April filing called Blackburn's behavior "shakedown tactics masquerading as lawyering." "This is simply a shakedown effort," Siev said. "Joe would not agree to it, and now [Dixon] has not only sued Joe, but he's dragged in everybody under the sun who has had any affiliation with Joe at any time, including Joe's management for the last several years. [The complaint] has no legal basis or no legal theory to support it." The attorney said the case will be "fought hard and actively," concluding, "We certainly expect to prevail on Joe's claims and to dismiss the claims that were brought yesterday."Fat Joe filed a lawsuit against Dixon for allegedly slandering him on social media with claims that the rapper flew a 16-year-old girl across state lines for sex. That suit, filed in April, claimed that Dixon and Blackburn sought to extort Fat Joe for money for being a "ghostwriter and uncredited vocalist" on some of his songs. "The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation, a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations," Fat Joe's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said in a statement to EW on Friday. "We didn't just sue a disgruntled former employee trying to revive a false claim from 15 years ago — we sued the lawyer behind it all," he added. "Law enforcement is aware of the extortionate demand at the heart of this scheme. The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable." Dixon seems prepared for a lengthy legal battle. "This is the right way to fight Joe — through the system," he told Variety. "You can't fight him no other way. Joe thinks he's a god. Joe thinks he's untouchable." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
