September 21, 2006 - Lonnell "Nitti" Greene is accused of providing illegal assault weapons to suspected gang members in the controversial DVD Fresno Uncensored. A judge ruled Thursday, there is enough evidence to try Greene.
The video clip lasts only a minute, and Greene isn't even on screen. But it's the guns being shown, that prosecutors say he provided, and that is sending the case to trial.
Police Detectives Ron Flowers and Anthony Gates are the main investigators looking into the controversial DVD. Gates testified the guns were provided by only one person, Lonnell "Nitti" Greene, saying, "During a film session Mr. Greene came to a residence with a duffle bag with weapons to be used in the video."
Greene is charged with two counts of possessing or furnishing assault weapons, with an enhancement for assisting, promoting and benefiting a street gang. His attorney says the charges violated Greene's First Amendment rights.
"I believe Mr. Greene is a rap artist and he produced this DVD to promote rap. If you listen to the end of the album he's asking for us to stop the violence," said Greene's attorney Edgar Page.
From the beginning, Greene said the idea was to showcase the music of local rappers. But prosecutors say the footage was mixed with Fresno street life, including gangs, drugs and guns.
Several suspected gang members have been prosecuted for their involvement in the DVD. Now, with Thursday's ruling, Greene finds himself headed to trial.
Greene will be arraigned in October. If convicted, he could face up to 14 -years in prison.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4586619
The video clip lasts only a minute, and Greene isn't even on screen. But it's the guns being shown, that prosecutors say he provided, and that is sending the case to trial.
Police Detectives Ron Flowers and Anthony Gates are the main investigators looking into the controversial DVD. Gates testified the guns were provided by only one person, Lonnell "Nitti" Greene, saying, "During a film session Mr. Greene came to a residence with a duffle bag with weapons to be used in the video."
Greene is charged with two counts of possessing or furnishing assault weapons, with an enhancement for assisting, promoting and benefiting a street gang. His attorney says the charges violated Greene's First Amendment rights.
"I believe Mr. Greene is a rap artist and he produced this DVD to promote rap. If you listen to the end of the album he's asking for us to stop the violence," said Greene's attorney Edgar Page.
From the beginning, Greene said the idea was to showcase the music of local rappers. But prosecutors say the footage was mixed with Fresno street life, including gangs, drugs and guns.
Several suspected gang members have been prosecuted for their involvement in the DVD. Now, with Thursday's ruling, Greene finds himself headed to trial.
Greene will be arraigned in October. If convicted, he could face up to 14 -years in prison.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4586619
