Federal Lawsuit Filed By Man Wrongfully Convicted Of Killing Black Chicago Police Officer
A federal lawsuit shines a light on the deep-rooted corruption within Chicago’s judicial system.
A federal lawsuit alleges that Chicago city and county officials enabled police officers to carry out a “wide-ranging scheme to manufacture evidence,” leading to the wrongful convictions of three innocent men for the murder of a Chicago police officer.
Alexander Villa, 36, filed the lawsuit nearly five months after a Cook County judge vacated his conviction and granted him a new trial, citing evidence that his rights had been violated, The Chicago Tribute reported. Villa endured eight years behind bars on a wrongful conviction for the murder of Officer Clifton Lewis before the court’s ruling.
“No one can pay Mr. Villa back for what he has been through, and Officer Lewis’ family may never find justice for their loss,” Jennifer Blagg, one of Villa’s attorneys, said in a statement. “And the city of Chicago taxpayers continue to pay for the CPD’s refusal to change a well-documented pattern of misconduct that goes back decades.”
It was last October when things got tense during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building when the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office admitted to uncovering potentially exculpatory evidence that had not been disclosed to the defense, but opted not to pursue a retrial.
Villa was one of three individuals charged in the case, which has sparked a separate lawsuit and complete disarray within the state’s attorney’s office. Prosecutors had already dismissed charges against the other two defendants, Edgardo Colon and Tyrone Clay, who are now pursuing their own legal claims.
The lawsuit claims that police officers, with support from prosecutors, falsified evidence and withheld key information that could have proven Villa’s innocence after failing to force a confession. According to the complaint, this was part of an investigative unit called “Operation Snake Doctor,” which was assembled to target the Spanish Cobras street gang.
Lewis was working as a security guard at a West Side convenience store when two masked men fatally shot him. Misfiled evidence included an FBI cell tower analysis revealing that Villa was texting his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. Surveillance footage of the incident also showed no indication that either shooter was using a phone, according to the motion.
Villa was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but in 2023, his attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that the state’s attorney’s office had uncovered evidence that should have been disclosed earlier by former prosecutors Andrew Varga and Nancy Adduci.
Varga and Adduci, who either resigned or were terminated, are named in the suit along with the city, county, and a number of police officers and investigators. While the lawsuits aim to seek justice for three wrongfully convicted men, there remain family and loved ones of Lewis who are still seeking answers into his tragic murder.
“I know you are disappointed, and the family is disappointed, but if there is not enough evidence, there is not enough evidence,” Judge Carol Howard said as she delivered her ruling.
Black-Owned ‘Down North Pizza’ Releases Cookbook Memoir To Shed Light On Prison System
Down North Pizza founder Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is providing hope through the pages of his cookbook, “We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives.”
In North Philadelphia, Down North Pizza is bigger than a piece of Philly’s iconic square pizza. Founder Muhammad Abdul-Hadi created a North Star for hope through pizza slices when he opened the mission-led for-profit restaurant, Down North Pizza, in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood in December 2020. Now, he is providing hope through the pages of his cookbook, We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives.
“I call it a memoir with some recipes,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s layered and has something in there for everybody. If you don’t care about the recipes and want to read some cool stories and see some photography, that’s there for you. If you want to dig into the recipes and make some bomb pizza, that’s there for you, too.”
Beyond the recipes and photos is information about the carceral system and its evolution. Footnotes throughout the cookbook take people on a journey of how the carceral system started with slavery and how it evolved over the centuries. The cookbook also sheds light on life after incarceration, with stories from former Philadelphia inmates.
“I always wanted to write a book, and when the opportunity presented itself, I didn’t want a traditional cookbook,” says Abdul-Hadi. “The book had to embody the brand and what we represent in the neighborhood. [I wanted to show] people eating pizza in the neighborhood. We call it ‘Pizza in the Wild.’ We want people to have a sense of the brand and what we represent.”
Down North Pizza: A Mission-Led Pizza Shop and Cookbook
“Strawberry Mansion is one of the most underserved communities in Philadelphia,” Abdul-Hadi said.“A lot of times, when people open up businesses in areas like this, it rarely benefits the neighborhood. I wanted to change that narrative.”
Down North Pizza focuses on the community. Adbul-Hadi is particularly interested in recidivism and giving people a second chance after incarceration. He knows firsthand the challenges and judgments that those who were formerly incarcerated face, because he was once in their shoes.
Inside his shop, no two pizzas on the menu are the same. The “No Betta Love” is a four-cheese pizza with “Norf” sauce. The “Break You Off” is made with lamb sausage, lemon ricotta, za’atar garnish, and garlic honey drizzle. While the pizzas are different, two ingredients stay the same: Abdul-Hadi’s love for community and the gift of second chances.
“I want to show the world we are not our worst mistakes. We can do things if given the right circumstances and thrive as well,” he says. “The brand exemplifies that, and when you come to the shop, you get to see all of that tenfold because that was very important to me.”
Money from every purchase — from the cookbook to the pizza — is recycled back into Strawberry Mansion through the pizza shop and Abdul-Hadi’s foundation, Down North Foundation.
“We have different initiatives that provide direct aid to individuals in need. We build our initiatives off necessity.”
One initiative he is proud of is “Protect Your Crib,” which assists people in danger of losing their houses to delinquent property taxes. The Down North Pizza team paid delinquent taxes for nearly a dozen people through the foundation, which also assisted residents in enrolling in a program that halted property tax increases for 10 years.
“Our biggest thing over here is the impact,” Abdul-Hadi said.
Michael Jordan’s Love Letter To His High School Sweetheart Valued At Over $12K At Auction
Love letter shows that Michael Jordan has game on the court, and with the ladies.
Micheal Jordan’s love letter to his high school girl is up for auction. The handwritten letter listed on the 2025 Lelands Winter Classic Auction currently stands at over $12,000. In the handwritten letter to his former girlfriend, Laquetta Robinson, Jordan tells his former sweetie that she will have to take a backseat to basketball.
In a letter dated May 20, 1981, the future basketball legend writes:
“Laquetta, you are my whole life next to basketball. Please don’t get mad about that statement. You are my whole life, but you can’t have basketball, ” the letter posted on Lelands.com says.
The love note shows the mogul’s romantic side and his commitment to the game. Jordan tells his former girlfriend of his plans to make basketball his career, and he promises her that he will make extraordinary strides in the sport.
A year later, the future legend won an NCAA championship as a member of the UNC Tar Heels. In 1985, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He went on to earn six NBA titles as a star player for the Chicago Bulls. The former shooting guard was named MVP five times and won two Olympic gold medals. Jordan also holds the NBA record for career playoff scoring average at 33.4 points per game. In 2009, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inducted the 14-time all-star.
This isn’t the first time Jordan memorabilia has made big bucks at auction. In May 2020, Iconic Auctions sold a 20-page love letter he wrote to another former girlfriend, Amy Hunter, for $25,703. Last year, a collection of six Air Jordan sneakers worn by the legendary player snagged $8 million at auction. In 2022, Jordan’s jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive memorabilia ever sold at an auction.
Dick Parsons: A Tribute To A Man Of Principle And Honor
Dick mentored young people, and took a special interest in younger, aspiring Black men and women.
Written by Marc Feigen
As the New York and American business communities mourn the passing of Richard “Dick” Parsons, Feigen Advisors also mourns the loss of the chairman of our firm’s Advisory Board and our firm’s first friend. In our founding years, Dick provided invaluable seed capital: his good name. Dick introduced our young firm to the Fortune 250. He counseled all our clients, taking a special interest in helping newly appointed CEOs. And he counseled me. Our thoughts and condolences are with Laura Parsons and their children and grandchildren.
Dick was not just calm under pressure; he grew calmer as the pressure rose. His calm brought calm to others. His incisive mind brought clarity to the complex. His spoken word was magical, often with a convincing and unexpected dimension. At 6’4”, most everyone looked up to him; with his James Earl Jones baritone, everyone listened to him. With his big and warm smile, the glint in his eye, and a fist bump, he was your friend.
Dick ran to the fire. Savings & Loan crisis? Dick is chosen to run the Dime Savings and Loan. The largest failed merger in history? Dick is asked to be CEO of AOL-Time Warner. The owner of the LA Clippers ridicules his players with ugly and racist remarks? The NBA calls Dick off the bench to lead the team.
His greatest legacy was saving Citigroup from insolvency. “Marc,” Dick said to me in an elevator bank, “we have got just six weeks. And I don’t know if we can make it.” The White House had just asked Dick to become chairman of Citigroup as the financial crisis reached its gravest moment. Dick knew there were other leaders the President could have chosen with a deeper combination of financial, regulatory, or restructuring expertise to lead Citi. But President Obama chose wisely. By agreeing to lead Citigroup — the failure of the $3 trillion bank could have caused an economic depression -– Dick’s selfless example bred selflessness, just as his calm bred calm. By force of will, he got bankers and regulators to compromise. He replaced many of the Citigroup board of directors. He directed the work of the CEO. He set the goals, found common ground, and dismissed those who protected their own positions.
While at law school, Dick finished second in the United States in the national Moot Court competition. That might have been the last time he came in second. The Dime was saved; Citigroup survived and grew again; he sold the Clippers to Steve Balmer. When the activist shareholder Carl Icahn held a news conference on the roof of St Regis announcing his choice to replace Dick as CEO of Time Warner, a showy affair attended by hundreds (I was there), Dick later walked over to Icahn’s office to meet. “Carl,” he said. “Nice party. But you just don’t have the votes. I have the votes.” On another visit, it happened to be Carl’s birthday, so Dick brought in a birthday cake. Carl discovered that Dick did have the votes. Carl made a deal and went away. (But Dick Parsons did sing him Happy Birthday.)
When I founded Feigen Advisors, I asked Dick to chair our advisory board. He said, “come by my office”, which I did, bringing our business plan. Low-volume jazz played in the background; a large Bugs Bunny sat by his desk overlooking Central Park. He read our business plan. Putting it down and pointing to me, he said, “Clint Eastwood.” Pointing to himself, he said, “Morgan Freeman.” Pointing to the two of us, he said, “Million Dollar Baby.”
When meeting our firm’s clients, he would tell them, “The CEO has only one natural predator. The Board.” He would charge our new CEOs to work toward their legacy from day one. He would tell our firm’s clients: “You have only two jobs as CEO. Leave your company in great shape and in good hands.”
Dick told stories like Lincoln told stories. Here are a few:
“One year, my CFO said we could not sign the financial statements, which the CFO and CEO are required by law to do. I knew that if we did not sign, we would go bankrupt. And so, I signed.”
Invited to dine with Happy and David Rockefeller at their home on the Hudson River, Dick picked up the finger bowl and started to drink it. “I thought it was soup! We did not have finger bowls in the Bronx.”
As Chairman of Citigroup, he volunteered to tell Donald Trump that the bank was pulling his loans. “So, I walked over to see The Donald” (Dick liked to visit people in their offices or ask people to “come by his office” -– recalling a time when New York leaders would visit each other to show respect). “I told Trump we are pulling his loans. Trump said, ‘You can’t do that!’ I said, ‘I just did’.”
After his first day of work as CEO of Time Warner, he came home and asked his wife, “Well, I have done that job now. I have nothing more to prove. Can I quit now?”
He called Citigroup the “land of the perfect question.” If you didn’t phrase the question just right, you would not get the answer. When he asked in the crisis, “Do we have collateralized debt obligations (CDOs)?” he was told, “No, sir!” Only later did he learn that Citigroup had billions of dollars of leverage on another kind of subprime mortgage security; it just wasn’t a CDO.
The moving obituaries about Dick capture his work as a CEO. But in his less visible boardroom leadership at The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Lazard, CBS, Citigroup, and others, he was often the director who resolved disagreement, perhaps with an especially logical insight that caught the Board’s attention and brought people together. His hand was always raised, whether to join or lead a special committee or to have a particularly tough face-to-face meeting. He worked the telephone between board sessions — as he would say, “leading not from the front -– that’s the CEO’s job, but from the middle.” (He published some of his advice in the “Board’s Quiet Revolution,” a 2014 article we wrote in The Harvard Business Review.)
Dick was reserved and even stoic about his illness, but when I suffered from long-COVID, he knew when I was doing better and when I was not. He was genuinely pleased that I would get better, even as we both quietly knew the prognosis for him was not good. He talked a lot about his wife (“When Carl Icahn called me names,” I said, “Hold on, Carl. Only my wife is allowed to say that!”). He had the proud Dad look when discussing his children, set up his daughter in a bookstore, and loved being a grandpa.
He had the best client list of any lawyer in New York, the world’s legal capital. Estee Lauder herself, David and Happy Rockefeller, Ronald Lauder, and Shari Redstone were among his many leading clients. His clients became his friends, and he stood by them. Shari texted me last evening about Dick, “He was so beyond amazing: special, intuitive, caring. He had it all. I never wanted anyone by my side more than Dick.”
When Ron Williams and I interviewed Dick for our research on The CEO’s Guide to Retirement, here is Dick: “I counsel retiring CEOs to give back. As citizens, we owe back to our society. We have to support the platform. In America, so much of what makes things work is volunteer activity rather than government-directed or commercial activity. Being an overall good citizen is being engaged in civil society and helping manage the allocation of society’s bounty.” Dick mentored young people and took a special interest in younger, aspiring Black men and women.
He was chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation, chairman of the Apollo Theater, co-chair of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, chairman of the Jazz Foundation of America, trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, chair of The Partnership for New York City, member of the board of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, and a member of the Commission of Presidential Debates.
He invested in Harlem, re-opening Minton’s, the historic Harlem jazz playhouse where bebop was created, and opened Cecil’s next door to Minton’s, serving African-inspired cuisine. One was lucky to get a table. He had a vineyard, too, and was generous in giving away prized vintage bottles of his well-regarded Il Palazzone, a Tuscan Brunello, at Christmas. Many urged him to run for Mayor of New York.
Dick Parsons deserved his surname. Widely generous with his impact and privately generous with his time, Dick achieved for himself what he told young people: “Be the one others admire.” He told stories, not sermons, but those of us lucky enough to be mentored by him, although we knew we could never be like him, took inspiration from Dick to act with courage. We learned when to confront and when to finesse and to always think and speak with precision. Dick’s life and his work share the way to navigate life’s toughest terrain: with courage, with intelligence, with resolve, with balance, and holding true to an ethical compass.
Marc Feigen serves as CEO of Feigen Advisors in New York City.
Viral ‘Wide Neck’ Miscreant Sends Nudes Of A Mother To Her Children
Charles "Wide Neck" McDowell has another mugshot to add to his viral collection.
Charles Dion McDowell, known online as the viral “Wide Neck,” character is facing criminal charges for allegedly sending explicit images to minors, TMZ reported.
McDowell is accused of sending a 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl explicit photos as well as videos of their mother. The images were also sent to the victim’s mother and another unidentified person. Charges indicate the transmission of the images occurred multiple times. The subject of the sexually suggestive content did not consent to its distribution.
The incident is serious enough to elicit federal charges, including “felony transmission of nude images without consent, electronically furnishing obscene material to a minor, and making harassing phone calls,” according to the police report.
Charles “Wide Neck” McDowell, the viral internet star known for his unusually large neck, has been arrested in Cherokee County, Georgia on multiple felony charges involving a minor.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia took the suspect into custody on Feb. 19. Due to the involvement of minors, no names or further details have been released.
McDowell, known as “Wide Neck,” gained internet fame for his unusually large neck, which has been compared to the size of a small tree trunk. The viral figure is no stranger to public attention or legal trouble.
His notoriety began in 2018 when he was arrested in Lee County, Alabama, for attempting to elude police. His mugshot went viral, drawing widespread attention online.
McDowell was charged with eluding law enforcement and reckless driving. After posting a $57,000 bond, he was released from jail.
In 2022, he was re-arrested in Escambia County, Florida., for fleeing and eluding police, as well as possession of meth and cocaine, Fox 5 reported.
After entering the ranks of internet virality McDowell went on to appear on multiple YouTube shows. He showed off the strength of his abnormal neck, took viewers along for his first chiropractic appointment, and juxtaposed his body parts with others with smaller necks.
There has been no reported court date or bond set for McDowell.
City Of Detroit Gifts New Home To Homeless Mom Who Lost Her Children To Frigid Temperatures
The Detroit mom's newly renovated home has been stacked with food, freshly painted, and decorated with brand new windows and flooring.
Tateona Williams, the homeless mother whose two children froze to death after living in a van for around three months in cold Detroit weather, has been gifted a newly renovated home by the city.
Chad Audi, president and CEO of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry, said on Instagram that the mission and city decided to step up and do something to help Williams’ family. “Our hearts continue to be with the Williams and Currie families as we stand by them, offering our love and compassion,” the City of Detroit captioned a video tour of Williams’ new home. “While nothing can truly ease their loss, the gift of a new home represents a pivotal step forward for both their family and our community. Detroit, let us unite in support.”
Williams walked through her new residence, which has been freshly painted, renovated with brand-new windows and flooring, and stacked with food. Audi hopes this is a good start to helping the mother cope with the loss of her two children, a 2-year-old and a 9-year-old. In the video, the Detroit mom confirmed that she likes her new home.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously covered the tragic incident that occurred earlier this month when Williams woke up to find two of her four children unresponsive. After being transported to a local hospital, the children were pronounced dead due to what appeared to be hypothermia. Williams and her children had been sleeping inside their van, which ran out of gas overnight and forced the family to endure freezing temperatures. The homeless mother said she faced difficulty receiving help from the city’s homeless response team, which she had reached out to several times, including last November. The woman, who had been homeless for three months, said she was not able to stay at hotels any longer, which resulted in sleeping inside the van in a Detroit casino parking garage.
According to The Detroit News, Williams said she’s been asking for help, and everybody has reached out “after” she lost her two kids. “I feel like it wasn’t their time,” she said. “I did everything I was supposed to do.”
Williams can “forget” the “sob stories, according to Darnell Currie Sr., the father of the children, who told 7 News Detroit that he was hoping the summons to the hospital “was a sick joke, but it wasn’t.” Williams said she asked Currie for help with the children, three of which she shares with him. Currie, however, told the outlet that “she did not. All she said was, ‘Can I get [th]em? Can I get [th]em?'” He said there was a difference between asking him to get the kids just to get them and asking him to get them because she was homeless, but according to him, she never specified.
BE noted that Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan confirmed that Williams contacted the city’s homeless response team three times. The last contact was on Nov. 25 of last year, but no outreach worker ever visited the family. The incident prompted a review of the city’s homeless services.
Ex-NFL Player Aaron Patrick Settles Lawsuit With NFL After Season-Ending Injury In 2022
The former Denver Broncos player has reportedly settled after an injury he suffered during a Monday Night Football contest in 2022
Former NFL player Aaron Patrick has reportedly settled a lawsuit filed against various entities, including the NFL, L.A. Chargers, and ESPN, for an injury he suffered during a Monday Night Football contest in 2022.
According to TMZ Sports, Patrick, who was a member of the Denver Broncos as a special teams player when a season-ending injury ended his NFL season, has reached a conditional settlement with the aforementioned companies. My News LA reported that SoFi Stadium was among the companies that settled with Patrick.
During an October 17, 2022, game between the Broncos and the L.A. Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Patrick tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) when he tried to avoid running into an NFL official who was standing on the sidelines when the incident took place.
Patrick stated that while avoiding the official, his foot got caught in a mat placed down to cover cords and cables used for the instant replay monitors on the sidelines. He sued for unspecified damages, including lost bonuses and future earning potential.
Daily Mail reported that when the suit was filed, Patrick’s attorney William Berman stated that “the defendants were negligent in their operations of SOFI STADIUM in allowing a dangerous condition to exist by having three mats placed near the sideline to cover cords/cables that led to the feed for the instant NFL’s replay monitor.”
In an email to the media outlet, Patrick’s attorney, William Berman, said, “The case settled under terms of strict confidentiality. All I can say is that my client is looking forward toward an opportunity to return to a career in the NFL.”
The Broncos waived Patrick in August 2023.
The media outlet also reported that an NFL spokesperson denied a settlement and stated the case was already dismissed.
“The case against the league was dismissed several years ago,” according to Brian McCarthy.
Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 992 ‘Aged Well’ Sneaker Culminates The Black Designer Being Amplified With The Shoe Brand
Joe Freshgoods is celebrating his five-year anniversary with New Balance with the 992 “Aged Well” and a documentary release.
Joe Freshgoods is marking five years and counting with New Balance through his latest release, the 992 “Aged Well,” a tribute to his creative partnership with the esteemed athletic apparel brand that continues to champion his design talent and infectious passion.
After debuting on the Joe Freshgoods website, the Chicago creative’s New Balance 992 “Aged Well” is gearing up for a wider release on Feb. 28 through newbalance.com and select retailers, Sneaker News reports. The new sneaker release marks Joe’s fifth anniversary with New Balance, a milestone after he nearly faced the closure of his now widely beloved and celebrated brand.
A documentary coming in June 2025 shares Joe’s success story, from his start as a local streetwear brand in his native Chicago to securing the New Balance partnership in 2020 when he was uncertain about how to sustain his business.
”It explores how the partnership impacted global sneaker culture and the transparency behind the growth,” Joe shared in an Instagram announcement, “which, to me, was more important than just making this about sneakers. This is real life.”
A trailer for the documentary offers a glimpse into Joe’s journey, showcasing his humble approach to success and his impact on the Boston-based athletic apparel brand founded in 1906. Since joining New Balance, Joe Robinson (better known as Joe Freshgoods) has seamlessly infused his signature designs—celebrating the luxury of streetwear style and culture—into the brand’s collections, merging storytelling with contemporary fashion.
Five years later, with 20 sneaker releases and counting, Joe Freshgoods’ latest New Balance collaboration is a love letter for his creative journey with the Boston-based brand.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m not supposed to be here. But then, I’m here, and I’m like, ‘Oh sh*t, I’m good at what I do,” he says in the video.
The design of the 992 “Aged Well” draws inspiration from Joe Freshgoods’ first collaboration with New Balance—the 2020 release of the New Balance 992 “No Emotions Are Emotions,” also known as “Anatomy Of A Heart.” It was an instant hit and celebrated during NBA All-Star Weekend and now fetches resale prices around $3,000.
While the reasons behind New Balance’s resurgence may vary, many consider Joe’s first 992 release as the catalyst that revitalized the brand. The sneakers feature pink and red suede silhouettes set against an olive-green mesh base and accented with saddle brown leather on the tongue and back tab.
Four sets of laces are included, and the box is adorned with unique details reflecting the “Aged Well” theme. Additionally, Joe Freshgoods designed a “Championship Dreams” varsity leather jacket to commemorate his five years of success as a fashion designer.
“I wanted this jacket to capture the essence of the last five years—every project has been a milestone, another chapter closed, another dream realized,” Joe captioned an Instagram post. “Over time, I’ve had the privilege of telling culturally important stories, and this jacket reflects that journey project by project.”
A$AP Rocky Is Going Back To Court, A$AP Relli Moves Forward With Civil Suit
A$AP Rocky is not through with legal battles against former friend A$AP Relli.
Rakim “A$AP Rocky” Mayers is heading back to court after his criminal acquittal. The rapper’s longtime friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, is moving forward with a civil lawsuit for assault and battery.
Rolling Stone reported the trial is scheduled to begin January 12, 2026. After losing the criminal case against Rocky, Relli’s legal team still maintains there is enough evidence to proceed.
The standard of proof is more lenient in a civil suit. Relli’s attorney, Mellisa Mikail, is confident in the case’s viability.
“The standard in a criminal case is much higher than the preponderance of the evidence standard in a civil matter,” Mikail said. “We still believe that our claims have merit, and we intend on fully litigating them.”
However, attorneys for Rocky argue the acquittal on criminal charges reflects a lack of sufficient evidence. The defense team stated that a jury has already found the evidence lacking and that a new jury will likely dismiss the testimony as meritless.
A week after A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of firing a semiautomatic pistol at a former friend, the rapper’s accuser made clear he’s still moving ahead with his civil lawsuit over the same incident.
After the criminal acquittal, James Sargent spoke about the jury’s decision and Rocky’s intent to see the trial through without settling with the plaintiff.
“Mr. Ephron testified in the criminal case as to the facts and circumstances. The jury’s acquittal speaks volumes about how they valued that testimonial evidence,” Sargent told the judge.
Rocky’s legal team also advised Relli to reconsider his decision to continue with the civil case.
“We look forward to full vindication. The plaintiff can take a sober assessment of the outcome of the criminal case and change course,” Sargent told Rolling Stone.
The civil case will hopefully be the final chapter in the saga for the father of Rihanna’s children. Rocky’s criminal case was a lengthy process. The case stemmed from an incident on Nov. 6, 2021. Relli accused the Praise The Lord rapper of firing a weapon in his direction, causing “minor injury,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
REPORT: Maryland And Texas Have The Most Diverse Cities In 2025
Both states account for the top five most diverse cities, according to WalletHub.
A new report from WalletHub, the personal finance app and website, shows that Maryland and Texas are home to the most diverse cities in the United States. The two states contributed the top five most diverse cities.
WalletHub compared 501 of the most populated cities to determine the most diverse cities in America. Each state was limited to 10 cities each. Analysts compared data across five key dimensions, including socioeconomic diversity, cultural diversity, economic diversity, household diversity, and religious diversity.
“It’s important to embrace diversity–and it’s good for the economy, too. Not only have waves of immigration changed the face of the nation, they’ve also brought in fresh perspectives, skills and technologies to help the U.S. develop a strong adaptability to change,” Adam McCann, WalletHub’s financial writer, wrote.
According to the study, the top 10 diverse cities in the U.S. are:
While it didn’t make the top 10 list, Gresham, Oregon, has the highest income diversity. Less than 20 miles east of Portland, Gresham’s income diversity is nearly 18% higher than the average cities on the list.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, two of its cities rank highest in educational attainment diversity, and racial and ethnic diversity. Silver Spring has the highest educational attainment diversity, 48% higher than the average of all cities. Germantown has the highest racial and ethnic diversity, 117% higher than the average of all cities.
“The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many dimensions—not just in race and gender but also everything from residents’ languages and birthplaces to their job types and household sizes,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “These cities blend together a multitude of different perspectives, helping people to better understand the world around them and become more empathetic. This exchange of ideas also tends to increase the economic success of diverse cities.”
