Murder Inc. trial ends with acquittals

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A New York federal jury Friday acquitted rap moguls Irving and Christopher Gotti of laundering drug money through their music label.

The brothers were accused of accepting drug money to start their hip-hop recording label Murder Inc. -- now Inc. Records -- and continuing to launder more than $1 million through the business for jailed drug kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff.

The jury began deliberations Thursday and came back Friday with not guilty verdicts on all counts, MTV.com reported.

The brothers could have faced 20 years in prison each if convicted.

Some of hip-hop's biggest stars -- including Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Russell Simmons, Damon Dash and Fat Joe -- were in the courtroom for closing arguments Thursday in support of the Gottis.