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Published: Monday, November 27, 2017 @ 8:16 AM
LONDON — Prince Harry may have come up with a touching way to honor his late mother, Princess Diana, with his engagement ring for his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle.
>> Prince Harry engaged to Meghan Markle
Us Weekly reported Friday that Prince Harry will not choose a family heirloom for Markle’s engagement ring as his brother Prince William did for Duchess Kate. Instead, he’s reportedly commissioned a new, very special ring for her, according to royal sources. The ring, however, won’t completely lack family history, as it will reportedly feature diamonds from a brooch that once belonged to Princess Diana.
>> PHOTOS: Meghan Markle through the years
The news comes after several jewelry experts made predictions about what kind of ring Prince Harry will choose.
>> PHOTOS: Prince Harry through the years
“I think it will be extremely unique. I think he will buy her something new and something quite modern,” royal jewelry expert Leslie Field told People last week.
Meanwhile, David Law told the Daily Express in October that incorporating smaller diamonds around the ring’s main stone may be the route he chooses, saying, “Looking back throughout history, royals have frequently chosen a ring featuring diamonds around the center stone.”
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 @ 11:12 PM
ATLANTA — An Atlanta rapper, accused of running a cross-country drug operation, was denied bond Tuesday, according to WSB-TV.
Terrell Davis, known by his stage name “Ralo,” faces a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute. Authorities allege Davis sold drugs from several apartment units he rents in Atlanta dubbed “Ralo’s Hood,” WSB reported. Davis and eight of his associates, believed to be part of his purported gang Famerica, are named in an 11-page criminal complaint.
The complaint states Davis and his acquaintances traveled to California twice to retrieve 964 pounds of marijuana — worth nearly $2 million — with the intention of selling it in Atlanta. Davis was arrested April 15 at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport after he initially refused to leave the aircraft, authorities said.
Following Davis’ arrest, federal authorities raided three separate locations in southwest Atlanta allegedly connected to the case.
According to the affidavit, Davis and roughly 10 people boarded a Dec. 18 chartered jet from the Fulton County Airport to Sacramento, Calif. Four days later, the group returned to the Fulton airport, where federal and local surveillance teams saw Davis and the other passengers transfer 37 packages wrapped in white holiday paper from the jet to an Econoline van, which was registered to Davis’ southwest Atlanta address.
An employee with the charter company offered to help unload, but the passengers declined, the affidavit said.
Shortly after the van was loaded, the Georgia State Patrol arrested three men wearing “RaloFamgoon” attire inside the vehicle, which was spotted driving in the dark without lights on, according to the complaint. Authorities said they found 520 pounds of marijuana worth $1 million in the van.
>> Related: Federal raid at Atlanta apartment tied to rapper’s arrest, officials say
A day after those arrests, Davis posted a picture of himself by a swimming pool with the caption: “I’ve lost more than a man have gained in a lifetime ... have you ever lost a million dollars at one time???” A week after the post, authorities said they received a passenger list from the flight and connected Davis to the men.
Four months after the shipment, federal officials were notified Davis and eight others traveled to Northern California again. This time they allegedly transported 17 packages containing marijuana weighing 444 pounds back to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, according to the affidavit.
The packages, worth $880,000, were loaded onto a Chrysler 300. Not long after the car left the airport, the GSP stopped it and federal authorities took eight people into custody.
Davis, who remained on the plane, initially refused to comply with authorities’ commands. He later exited the aircraft, which allegedly smelled of marijuana, when police dogs were brought in to assist.
>> Related: Rapper Meek Mill released from prison after 5 months
One of Davis’ supporters, Kalya Freeman, told WSB that despite the allegations, Davis often gave back to the community: “He’s a good person. He supports what we do. He supports everybody.”
The Rapper RALO was busted with approximately 440 pounds of marijuana, which has been valued at over $840,000, while flying privately into Dekalb-Peachtree airport in Atlanta pic.twitter.com/Pq2xfrvUCi
— Atlanta (@Atlantafollowme) April 21, 2018
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 @ 7:17 PM
— Members of Prince’s family have filed a lawsuit against an Illinois hospital and the Walgreens pharmacy chain, contending both could have done more to prevent the legendary entertainer’s opioid overdose death in April 2016, according to news reports.
The suit follows a decision made last week by the Carver County Attorney Mark Metz against filing charges in the superstar singer’s death. Following a two-year investigation, Metz, of Carver County, Minnesota, announced Thursday that “Prince died from taking a counterfeit Vicodin pill that contained fentanyl, a dangerously powerful opioid,” but that investigators could not determine who sold the “Purple Rain” singer the pill. Authorities fined the doctor who prescribed Prince painkillers in a friend’s name.
Prince's family file wrongful death lawsuit against Illinois hospital and Walgreens https://t.co/WtnX1GiNSt
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) April 24, 2018
A week before Prince died, he was treated at Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois for an overdose. His plane made an emergency landing in Moline after he had played a show in Atlanta, and he was briefly hospitalized after overdosing on the plane.
>> Related: Music legend Prince dead at 57
The suit by the six heirs to Prince’s fortune accuses the doctor who examined the entertainer of misidentifying the pain pill the singer took before his overdose as a Vicodin, when it was instead a counterfeit laced with fentanyl, the Minneapolis Tribune reported. The suit also accuses the hospital of failing to appropriately identify and treat the overdose.
In addition, the suit names Walgreens because it gave prescriptions meant for Prince to his longtime friend and manager Kirk Johnson.
“We will have much to say when the time is right,” the attorney who filed the suit on behalf of the family, John Goetz, told the Star Tribune.
“We have client interests to protect at the moment, including our theory of the case. What happened to Prince is happening to families across America. Prince’s family wishes, through its investigation, to shed additional light on what happened to Prince,” Goetz said.
>> Related: Prince’s doctor fined for drug violations in singer’s death
Prince was 57 when he died on April 21, 2016, at his Paisley Park home of an accidental overdose, six days after the overdose on the plane.
Published: Monday, November 06, 2017 @ 8:49 PM
PHILADELPHIA — Rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in Pennsylvania state prison Monday after violating probation.
According to KYW, the 30-year-old known legally as Robert Rihmeek Williams, was already under probation for a drug and weapons case and has been arrested twice this year.
In March, Mill was charged with a misdemeanor for an altercation with two employees at St. Louis International Airport.
In August, he was charged for reckless endangerment for illegally riding his dirt bike in the Inwood section of Manhattan in New York.
People reported that the charges from the March incident were dropped after Mill agreed to do community service.
Despite his charges being dropped, Judge Genece Brinkley, who had been dealing with Mill since 2008 following a conviction for dealing drugs and gun possession, still sentenced the rapper to prison.
The sentencing also came from other violations of probation. Philly.com reported Brinkley cited Mill and his managers for repeatedly scheduling performances outside of Philadelphia or Montgomery County. At the time, in 2016, Mill was on house arrest for 90 days after violating probation for unapproved travel.
Before being sentenced, Mill said his violations were mistakes and not disrespect of Brinkley or the court.
“I’m human. I’m not perfect,” Mill told Brinkley. “I’m asking for mercy. You gave me the ladder to do what I have to do to prevail in my struggle. I made it this far, I can’t really go back and start over.”
“I gave you break after break and you basically just thumbed your nose at this court,” Brinkley said.
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 @ 5:23 PM
PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of rapper Meek Mill.
TMZ reported that the 30-year-old, whose birth name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was denied bail last week by Judge Genece Brinkley. Brinkley had been criticized for having what some considered a bias against Meek.
In November, Meek was sentenced to two to four years in prison after violating probation for a drug and weapons case when he was 21.
The Associated Press reported that Meek will be on bail while he appeals the gun and drug convictions.
Activists and celebrities, including JAY-Z, T.I. and Kevin Hart, have shown support for Meek. At the time of the sentencing, JAY-Z said Brinkley’s sentence was “unjust and heavy handed.” Hart visited Meek in prison earlier Tuesday with 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin.
Related: Meek Mill sentenced to at least 2 years in prison for probation violation
“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail,” Meek’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said in a statement. “As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail. We are also pleased that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has noted that Judge Brinkley may opt to remove herself from presiding over any further proceedings in Meek’s case in the interests of justice. Meek is excited to be reunited with his family, and we, along with Meek, intend to continue to shine the light on a justice system in need of reform to prevent any other citizen from being put through what Meek has endured.”
Related: JAY-Z, T.I., and others slam Meek Mill sentence as ‘unjust and heavy-handed’
Meek himself issued a statement that was posted on his Twitter page. He thanked his supporters and advocates while voicing plans to bring attention to people of color in prison and move on with his career.
“I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time,” the statement said. “While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.
“To the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues. In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.”
I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018
To the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018
In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 24, 2018