Even though it’s not breaking news that LOVE & HIP HOP star Mendeecees Harris was arrested on federal charges for “Trafficking $2.5 Million dollars’ worth of heroin and cocaine. There has been a lot of speculation and gossip on the streets about Mendeecees Harris being a “SNITCH” and he’s working with the federal government in the investigation of other individuals named and not named in his indictment. You know how we do it here at Street Justice, we don’t report it if it can’t be verified. So rather than speculate about the situation, let’s take a look at the brother’s “indictment” and break it down to the lowest terms. (See Mendeecees Harris Indictment) http://www.delawareonline.com/assets/pdf/BL203137330.PDF
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h) The Laundering of Money Instruments. Ok the federal government contends that Mendeecees has committed the act of money laundering. Now whoever is convicted of committing such an act would be subject to face the following: (1) shall be sentenced to a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both
Now let’s take a look at another statue Mendeecees Harris has been charged with:
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). All in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846
Notice that this statute isn’t found under Title 18 but it comes from Title 21 in the United States Code book and any person found charged with knowingly and intentionally to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance; such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years or more than life and if death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance shall be not less than 20 years or more than life, a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $10,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $50,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, or both.
So as you can see this charge carries what is called “A MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE OF 10 years” and the only way to get up under that 10 years is to cooperate with the federal government, ie., “SNITCH”. Now let’s take a look at what the provision pertaining to cooperation says: A 5K1 motion is filed by the Government when a defendant provides substantial assistance in the solving of other cases and the Government seeks a reduction in what otherwise would be his sentence. There is also a second part to this process. The prosecutor typically files a 5K1 letter to the court on behalf of the defendant who has offered substantial assistance to the government before he or she is sentenced. Of course, at this point the authorities have to take the information and check it out to ensure it’s legitimate. And that’s one way the investigation of other person of interest gets underway. But it doesn’t stop there. The “SNITCH” will then be afforded yet another opportunity to get some love. After the investigations are wrapped up and individuals are rounded up and placed in prison to await their “DAY IN COURT”, the “SNITCH” then receives what is commonly referred to as a RULE 35 and his sentence is reduced again. Typically these deductions will average about 25% percent and in some cases, depending on how bad the Government wants the suspects in question, defendant have been known to get even more than the 25%.
Now we are not saying that the brother is cooperating or not. That remains to be seen, we just want to shed some light on the situation to make you (the viewer) more informed. Well that’s it for now, I’ve got to kick back and drop some meditation on the rocks! This is Maestro!
