ATLANTA — Federal investigators say a local rapper at the center of a federal raid was a gang leader tied to 1,000 pounds in pot seizures.
Attorney Ash Joshi confirmed to Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne on Thursday that he represents Terrell Davis, who is better known as the hip-hop artist Ralo.
He said Ralo will plead not guilty to federal charges he saw for the first time on Thursday.
In a video posted to his verified Instagram account on Feb. 24, Ralo said “I’m flagged at every airport."
Another post said, "Attention police officers. I will never in my life ride with any drugs."
New federal documents filed Thursday now raise questions about whether Ralo flew with drugs in his plane.
Agents from several local and federal agencies raided an apartment building in southwest Atlanta on Wednesday.
Ralo and others were charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
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“It’s an ongoing investigation so I can’t comment beyond what’s on the complaint. We have several individuals who were arrested based on state charges but, as you know, that there’s a federal complaint filed so we’ll be seeking additional evidence,” U.S. District Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said.
An affidavit from an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alleges Ralo was the leader of a criminal street gang called Famerica and a hip-hop artist.
The document describes Ralo’s charter flight to Fulton County Airport on Dec. 22, a traffic stop near the airport by the Georgia State Patrol and the discovery of approximately 520 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of about $1 million.
The affidavit indicates that, the day before, the Instagram videos of Ralo getting onto a private jet surrounded by people wearing clothing similar to clothing recovered in a van with the marijuana were posted.
The document also describes events on April 15 at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport that suggest Ralo was on an aircraft with about 444 pounds of marijuana.
The affidavit lists the drugs as having an estimated street value of approximately $840,000.
“Within the allotted time, if there’s sufficient evidence, we’ll be seeking a grand jury indictment,” Pak told Winne.
Another Instagram post from Ralo’s account on Feb. 2 said, “I don’t want no illegal guns, drugs or criminal activity near me.”
The affidavit filed on Thursday suggests otherwise.
Cox Media Group
