James Rosemond#Entertainment career

Rosemond was born in 1965,{{cite web|title=Jimmy Henchman Sentenced To Life Behind Bars|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/jimmy-henchman-sentenced-life-behind-bars-188350/|website=Vibe|access-date=November 3, 2023|date=October 26, 2013}} in Harlem, New York and grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York,{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Preezy|title=Hip-Hop's Most Impactful Black Music Management Executives|url=https://www.vibe.com/lists/hip-hops-most-impactful-black-music-management-executives/jimmy-henchman/|website=Vibe|access-date=November 3, 2023|date=July 6, 2023}} in an apartment complex called Vanderveer Gardens. His parents migrated from Haiti in the 1960s. They divorced when he was young, leaving his mother to raise five children alone.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/05/tupac_shakur_chuck_philips_los_angeles_times.php |title=Tupac Shakur, the Los Angeles Times, and Why I'm Still Unemployed: A Personal History by Chuck Philips |access-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121050406/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/05/tupac_shakur_chuck_philips_los_angeles_times.php |url-status=dead }}

Rosemond and several friends founded the music conference "How Can I Be Down" in 1992.{{cite web|title=Exclusive- Jimmy Henchman answers rumors accusations|url=http://www.dondivamag.com/exclusive-jimmy-henchman-answers-rumors-accusations/|work=dondivamag.com|publisher=Don Diva Magazine|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=March 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318070433/http://www.dondivamag.com/exclusive-jimmy-henchman-answers-rumors-accusations/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Who Exactly is Jimmy Henchman?|url=http://theurbandaily.com/2012/06/26/who-is-jimmy-henchman/|work=TheUrbanDaily.Com|date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2015}} Rosemond was behind Salt-n-Pepa's 1993 single "Shoop"{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/482680/hip-hop-mogul-james-rosemond-indicted-on-murder-charge |title=Hip-Hop Mogul James Rosemond Indicted on Murder Charge |publisher=Billboard |date=June 25, 2012 |access-date=October 27, 2013}}

Circa 1996, Rosemond founded Henchmen, the company that would later become the rap management company Czar Entertainment.{{cite book|last=Hillary Crosley|title=The Billboard Q&A: Jimmy Rosemond|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iw4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21|access-date=January 28, 2014|date=December 9, 2006|pages=21–}} He was the CEO of Czar,{{cite journal|journal=Jet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sjsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA37|date=March 10, 2008|title=Rapper Tony Yayo Gets Community Service for Harassment of 14-Year-Old Boy|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|page=37|issn=0021-5996|access-date=January 25, 2014}} when it managed The Game, Sean Kingston, Brandy, Gucci Mane, Guerilla Black, Salt-n-Pepa and Akon.{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/jimmy-henchman-sentenced-life-behind-bars |title=Jimmy Henchman Sentenced To Life Behind Bars |publisher=Vibe |date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=October 27, 2013}} He was a known figure in the hip hop music industry, described in a 2012 The New York Times article as "a prince at the royal court, whose ties to rap music’s biggest stars were known far and wide."{{cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Michael|title=Rap Music Figure Convicted of Running Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Ring|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/nyregion/james-rosemond-convicted-of-running-multimillion-dollar-drug-ring.html|access-date=September 8, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 5, 2012}} Rosemond was The Game's manager during a feud with 50 Cent when The Game recorded the diss track "300 Bars and Runnin."{{cite book|first=Thomas|last=Golianopoulos|title=He Stands Alone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dhpEiwR_cZAC&pg=PA85|access-date=January 25, 2014|date=December 2006|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|pages=85–}} In 2006, Henchman and 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) settled a lawsuit regarding a DVD that Czar Entertainment released about 50 Cent's namesake, Kelvin "50 Cent" Martin, in which interviews with Jackson were alleged to have been inappropriately used. In the settlement, a charity was created with funds going to support Martin and his children.{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DxYEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=January 28, 2014|date=April 1, 2006|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DxYEAAAAMBAJ/page/n7 8]–|chapter=Latest News from the Biz: 50 Cent Settles|publisher=Nielsen Business Media }}

In 2002, Rosemond negotiated the Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson boxing match. It was the first time that a boxer demanded that after a million buys on pay-per-view, the boxers would split the purse 50–50 with Showtime Networks/HBO.{{cite web|title=James Rosemond, Jr. Signs Lantana To Management Deal|url=http://www.hiphopweekly.com/james-rosemond-jr-signs-lantana-to-management-deal/|publisher=Weekly Hip Hop|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906193718/http://www.hiphopweekly.com/james-rosemond-jr-signs-lantana-to-management-deal/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison|url=http://defend.ht/politics/articles/judicial/5153-james-jimmy-henchman-rosemond-sentenced-to-life-in-federal-prison|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

In 2003, Rosemond, along with Chris Lighty, joined Russell Simmons in his campaign to end New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws.{{cite web|title=JAILED JIMMY HENCHMAN & RUSSELL SIMMONS RELEASE STATEMENTS ON CHRIS LIGHTY|url=http://www.sohh.com/jailed-jimmy-henchman-russell-simmons-release-statements-on-chris-lighty/|work=sohh.com|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212623/http://www.sohh.com/jailed-jimmy-henchman-russell-simmons-release-statements-on-chris-lighty/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Charged as lobbyists, Simmons and Chavis fight back|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/10602629/charged-as-lobbyists-simmons-chavis-fight-back|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318051637/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/10602629/charged-as-lobbyists-simmons-chavis-fight-back|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2015|publisher=EBSCO HOST Connection|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

Rosemond along with Shakim Compere and Mona Scott, executive produced BET's SOS Saving Ourselves: Help for Haiti, a telethon held at Miami's American Airlines Arena on February 5, 2010, to raise money for the devastated victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake that killed over 100,000 people.{{cite web|title=Wyclef jean shot in haiti|url=http://necolebitchie.com/2011/03/wyclef-jean-shot-in-haiti/|work=necolebitchie.com|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

In June 2010, Rosemond was arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and witness tampering. He went on trial in May 2012, represented by Gerald Shargel.{{cite news|first=Nate|last=Schweeber|title=Drug Trial Starts for Figure Prominent in Rap World|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/james-rosemond-begins-trial-on-drug-charges.html|access-date=September 8, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 14, 2012|quote=Prosecutors say James Rosemond is a drug kingpin, and he went on trial Monday in federal court in Brooklyn on charges that he led a criminal enterprise that sold millions of dollars [sic] worth of cocaine, laundered money and tampered with witnesses.}}

On June 5, 2012, Rosemond was convicted in Federal District Court in Brooklyn of drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, firearms violations, and other financial crimes associated with his position as head of a multi-million-dollar transnational cocaine-selling organization.{{cite news|last=Schwirtz|first=Michael|title=Rap Music Figure Convicted of Running Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Ring|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/nyregion/james-rosemond-convicted-of-running-multimillion-dollar-drug-ring.html?_r=1&src=twrhp|work=N.Y./Region|publisher=The New York Times|access-date=June 5, 2012|date=June 5, 2012}} At trial, it was alleged that Rosemond led the large scale, bi-coastal narcotics-trafficking organization that transported cocaine from Los Angeles, California to the New York metropolitan area. The group, known as the "Rosemond Organization," in turn shipped cash proceeds from the narcotics sales back to Los Angeles using a variety of methods as part of its operation. Millions of dollars in cash and narcotics were sent through Federal Express and United Parcel Service, often covered in mustard to avoid discovery by detection dogs.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2013/2013oct25.html |title=USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of New York |publisher=Justice.gov |access-date=February 18, 2014}} In the indictment, prosecutors noted that Rosemond made over $11 million a year since 2007 through his drug trafficking scheme.{{cite news|first=Nate|last=Schweeber|title=Drug Trial Starts for Figure Prominent in Rap World|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/james-rosemond-begins-trial-on-drug-charges.html|access-date=September 8, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 14, 2012}}

On October 25, 2013, Rosemond was sentenced to life imprisonment.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/james-rosemond-hip-hop-s-jimmy-henchman-gets-life-1.6321722 |title=James Rosemond, hip-hop's "Jimmy Henchman," gets life |publisher=Newsday.com |date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=January 25, 2014|first=John|last=Riley}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/nyregion/hip-hop-mogul-gets-life-sentence-for-drug-ring.html|title=Hip-Hop Figure Gets Life Sentence for Drug Ring|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 27, 2013|first=Mosi|last=Secret|date=October 25, 2013}} As part of his sentence, Rosemond forfeited approximately $14 million in cash and property. United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta E. Lynch said that Rosemond's carefully crafted image as a music mogul was in reality "a cover for the real Jimmy Rosemond - a thug in a suit." Presiding Judge John Gleeson remarked that he would have sentenced Rosemond to life even if it were not legally required as his crimes were "astonishing in their breadth, duration and intensity."

On March 10, 2016, Rosemond filed a habeas corpus appeal with the same federal court seeking a new trial along with a complaint to the U.S. Justice Department Office of Professional Responsibility against former U.S. Attorney Todd Kaminsky citing actions taken with regard to securing testimony from the government's lead witness Henry "Black" Butler.{{cite web

| title = James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond Appeals For New Trial, Claims Star Witness Received Benefits | url = http://hiphopwired.com/2016/04/14/empire-brother-law-implicated-jimmy-henchman-appeal-new-trial/ | website = Hiphopwired.com | date = April 14, 2016 | access-date = April 25, 2016 }}{{cite web | title = Star Prosecution Witness Against James Rosemond Received Substantial Benefits to Testify | url = http://jimmyhenchman.info/jimmy-files-habeas-corpus-appeal-complaint-against-kaminsky-press-release/ | website = James Rosemond: Life, Legacy & the Law | date = April 15, 2016 | access-date = April 25, 2016 | archive-date = August 18, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160818173619/http://jimmyhenchman.info/jimmy-files-habeas-corpus-appeal-complaint-against-kaminsky-press-release/ | url-status = dead }} In 2019, the court denied the writ and dismissed his appeal.[https://casetext.com/case/rosemond-v-united-states-52815 Rosemond v. United States], 378 F. Supp. 3d 169, (E.D.N.Y. 2019) 11-cr-424. 5 May 2019.

In June 2012, Rosemond was charged with four crimes{{cite web|last=Rys |first=Dan |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/03/jury-begins-deliberations-jimmy-henchman-murder-hire-trial/ |title=Jury Begins Deliberations In Jimmy Henchman Murder For Hire Trial |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=5 Mar 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014}} in connection with the death of G-Unit affiliate Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher, including murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/nyregion/james-rosemond-is-among-6-charged-in-killing-of-50-cents-associate.html|title=6 Charged in Murder of Rapper 50 Cent's Associate|first=Matt|last= Flegenheimer|date=June 22, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 24, 2014}} Rosemond is alleged to have arranged the murder as payback for the alleged assault on his son by Lodi Mack and Tony Yayo.{{cite web |last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2009/10/tony_yayos_assa.php |title=Tony Yayo's Assault on a 14-Year-Old Kid May Have Gotten Someone Killed |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=October 9, 2009 |access-date=October 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195043/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2009/10/tony_yayos_assa.php |url-status=dead }} The trial began on February 10, 2014 in a New York federal court.{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/v9ul5c/50-cent-mocks-jimmy-henchman-on-instagram |date=18 Feb 2014| title=50 Cent Mocks Jimmy Henchman on Instagram |publisher=BET |access-date=February 18, 2014}} More than 35 witnesses testified at the trial. Closing arguments finished on March 4, 2014. The jury deliberations resulted in a hung jury on the four counts for both Rosemond and co-defendant Johnson.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/03/jimmy-henchman-murder-for-hire-trial-results-in-hung-jury/| date=7 Mar 2014 | title=Jimmy Henchman Murder For Hire Trial Results In Hung Jury|website=XXL Mag|access-date=October 25, 2017}}

Rosemond came before a jury again in December 2014 and on December 11 the jury found him guilty on all charges for the murder of Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher.{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2014/12/12/james-jimmy-henchman-rosemond-found-guilty-murder-for-hire-trial-50-cent-gunit/|title=Jimmy Henchman Found Guilty In "Murder-For-Hire" Plot Against G-Unit Associate|website=allhiphop.com|date=12 Dec 2014 |access-date=October 25, 2017}} On March 23, 2015, Rosemond was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years by Judge Colleen McMahon.{{cite news| agency =AP| title =Former Hip-Hop Mogul Gets Life In Prison In Murder-For-Hire Plot| newspaper =The New York Times| date =24 Mar 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/01/us/ap-us-rap-promoter-murder-for-hire.html| access-date =March 25, 2015}}{{cite news| agency =AP| title =Promoter Who Ordered 50 Cent's Friend Killed Loses Appeal| newspaper =CBS New York|date =24 Mar 2015 | url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/24/former-hip-hop-mogul-gets-life-in-prison-in-murder-for-hire-plot/ }} The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd circuit overturned the conviction in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Klasfeld |first1=Adam |title=Hip-Hop Mogul Wins Murder-for-Hire Appeal |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/hip-hop-mogul-winsmurder-for-hire-appeal/ |website=Courthouse News Service |date=1 Nov 2016 |access-date=25 June 2022}} The case was tried for the third time in 2017. Rosemond was again convicted and sentenced to life plus 30 years.{{cite web |last1=Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York |title=Czar Entertainment Founder James Rosemond Sentenced To Life In Prison For Ordering The Murder Of Lowell Fletcher |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/czar-entertainment-founder-james-rosemond-sentenced-life-prison-ordering-murder-lowell |website=U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York |publisher=United States Department of Justice |access-date=25 June 2022 |date=8 Nov 2018}} Rosemond was assigned BOP#17903-054 and is incarcerated at USP Pollock.

Rosemond has a son and two daughters.{{cite news|url=http://mobile.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0919064520080409?src=RSS-USN |title=50 Cent and Universal sued for pushing gangsta life |publisher=Mobile.reuters.com |access-date=October 27, 2013}}

In 2008, the LA Times retracted and apologized for a story which had alleged that Rosemond had been involved in a criminal event.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-naw-quad17mar17-story.html|title=Times retracts Shakur story|first=James|last=Rainey|date=April 7, 2008|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 25, 2014}} The story was based on documents created by a person convicted of fraud that had been falsely believed to be from an FBI file.

In 2012, Dexter Isaac, an associate of Rosemond, stated in court that he had carried out the 1994 robbery and shooting of Tupac Shakur on Rosemond's orders.{{cite web |last=Kane |first=Greg |author-link=Gregory Kane (journalist) |title=Bad Boy Diddy tells kids how to have a good life |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2006/09/20/bad-boy-diddy-tells-kids-how-to-have-a-good-life-2/ |website=Baltimore Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328235644/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2006/09/20/bad-boy-diddy-tells-kids-how-to-have-a-good-life-2/ |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |date=September 30, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Philips |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Philips |date=June 12, 2012 |title=James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond Implicated Himself in 1994 Tupac Shakur Attack: Court Testimony |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/06/jimmy_henchman_implicated.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629033839/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/06/jimmy_henchman_implicated.php |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |work=Village Voice }}

Rosemond is profiled by filmmaker Don Sikorski in the documentary video series Unjust Justice: The Jimmy Rosemond Tapes released in 2016 and podcast Unjust Justice: The Jimmy Rosemond Story released in 2020 and hosted by Michael K. Williams. The series examined Rosemond's life, criminal cases, and portrayal by the media.{{cite web | title = The Case Of James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond To Be Examined In New Web Series 'Unjust Justice' | url = http://allhiphop.com/2016/01/21/james-jimmy-henchman-rosemond-web-series-unjust-justice-go-to-ground-podcast-2pac/ | website = Allhiphop.com | date = January 21, 2016 | access-date = April 25, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Ivey |first1=Justin |title="James Rosemond Story" Podcast Unravels The Controversial Life Of Jimmy Henchman |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/james-rosemond-new-podcast/ |website=AllHipHop.com |access-date=26 June 2022 |date=15 March 2022}}

Rosemond was mentioned by name (as "Henchman") by Tupac Shakur in his song "Against All Odds" on his album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, on which Shakur raps "promise to payback Jimmy Henchman in due time." Tupac believed that Rosemond was involved in setting up the shooting and robbery of Shakur at the Quad Recording Studios in New York in November 1994. In 2012, a man named Dexter Isaac, serving a life sentence for unrelated crimes, claimed that he attacked Shakur that night and that the robbery was indeed orchestrated by Rosemond.{{cite web | title = The Case Of James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond To Be Examined In New Web Series 'Unjust Justice' | url = http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/all-eyez-on-me/ | website = Historyhollywood.com | date = n.d.| access-date = March 1, 2018}}

American rapper Rick Ross acknowledges Rosemond as a mentor in his song "Ghostwriter" from the album Black Market: "Remember receiving words of wisdom from Jimmy Henchman I lit a blunt in his honor when he received his sentence."{{cite web | title = Rick Ross - Ghostwriter lyrics | url = https://genius.com/Rick-ross-ghostwriter-lyrics | website = Genius.com | access-date = April 8, 2016 }}

{{cite AV media|first1=James|last1=Rosemond|interviewer2=Don Sikorski|interviewer2-link=Don Sikorski|interviewer1-link=Michael K. Williams|interviewer1=Michael K. Williams|website=Apple Podcasts Preview|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-chuck-phillips-misinformation/id1610807742?i=1000556554609|title=Unjust Justice: The James Rosemond Story|publication-date=March 21, 2022}}

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• [http://jimmyhenchman.info Supporters' website]
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Category:Living people

Category:1965 births

Category:American chief executives

Category:American drug traffickers

Category:American people convicted of murder

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American criminals

Category:Musicians from Brooklyn

Category:Tupac Shakur

Category:American people of Haitian descent