Casanova Receives Lengthy Prison Term in RICO Case

In a significant development regarding the RICO case that emerged in 2020, Casanova has been handed a prison sentence exceeding 15 years. Today, Judge Philip M. Halpern delivered a verdict that condemns the rapper to 188 months behind bars.

Casanova’s involvement with the Untouchable Gorilla Stone gang has led to his imprisonment, as the group was implicated in an array of criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, violent assaults, and even the tragic murder of a 15-year-old boy in Upstate New York.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the notoriety of Caswell Senior, both as a recording artist and as a prominent figure within a ruthless street gang. Williams stated, “Caswell Senior is not just a notorious recording artist, but he is also a high-profile leader of a vicious street gang and a magnet for gang violence. At a crowded Miami house party, Senior personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout. Further, Senior’s stature in the community was central to Gorilla Stone’s successful recruitment and nationwide expansion. Today’s sentencing — along with the other significant sentences that have been imposed in this case — shows once again that gang life is not worth it and will lead to many years in prison.”

Originally facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, intent to manufacture and distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, Casanova ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. Specifically, he admitted to participating in a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and conspiring to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana. As part of his plea, Casanova distanced himself from the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation, expressing a desire to disassociate from the gang.

Nonetheless, on June 14, while in Essex County Jail, Casanova fell victim to an attack resulting in injuries that required stitches on his head and hands. His attorney, James Kousouros, argued that Casanova’s public renouncement of the gang had endangered his life, advocating for a more lenient sentence. However, despite these circumstances, the judge deemed it appropriate to sentence the rapper to more than 15 years in prison.