Months after his passing, Jimmy Wopo has been named in a federal indictment of members affiliated with 11 Hunnit, a gang operating out of Pittsburgh. At least three members of the gang Wopo was affiliated with, have been indicted on racketeering charges that include homicide, drug trafficking, and robbery. Although Wopo was not officially charged in the indictment, his name featured prominently in the 15-page document, relating many of the gangs activities.
Jimmy Wopo was spoken of as a key influencer within the group. The document stated the following under the abridged version of his given name Tavon Smart): “T.S. held the greater influence within the group largely due to his notoriety as a regionally popular rap artist, members attempted to curry favor with T.S. by carrying out criminal acts at his direction."
The paragraph went onto describe a mutual exchange that eluded law enforcement for several months. Rappers were promised a certain level of notoriety in his music videos if they accomplished certain deeds in the streets, so the document states. 22-year-old Dionte Griffin, 20-year-old Sydney Pack, and 23-year-old Richard Kelley, are the three individuals who were indicted in the gang sting. All remain in custody and await trial for their actions, presumed organized by rank.
Jimmy Wopo's manager Taylor Maglin insists his client was not involved in any of the stated crimes, in no shape or form. "They will say what they want to say," he added. "At the end of the day, this is the government. But i will keep the message positive, his music going, and his name alive forever."
