NEW YORK, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- New York federal prosecutors Monday rested their money laundering case against the founders of the hip-hop recording label, Murder Inc.
The government introduced as evidence text messages between brothers Irving and Christopher Gotti and convicted drug kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, MTV.com reported.
Prosecutors claim McGriff provided the seed money to start up Murder Inc., and the brothers continued laundering his drug money through the label, now known simply as The Inc.
Defense attorney Gerald Shargel fought to have the text messages kept from the jury, telling Judge Edward Korman prosecutors could not accurately translate abbreviations and incomplete transmissions.
Prosecutor Carolyn Pokorny successfully argued the messages further proved a close relationship between the Gottis and McGriff.
Shargel is scheduled to begin the defense portion of the trial Tuesday.
