June 28, (THEWILL) – American rapper, Caswell Senior, aka Casanova, has been sentenced to 188 months imprisonment for racketeering and narcotics offences.
United States Attorney for Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, made the announcement on Tuesday, June 27.
“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, Casanova, personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout. Further, Casanova’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”, Williams said.
The Brooklyn rapper was arrested in 2021 and in January 2023, he pleaded guilty to racketeering and narcotics offences in connection with his leadership role in the untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Blood Gang.
As part of his guilty plea, the singer told prosecutors he played a role in a July 2020 Florida shooting and a New York City robbery in 2018, while also admitting he trafficked over 100 kilograms of marijuana.
The rapper was one of 18 alleged gang members who were indicted in December 2020 on the aforementioned criminal charges.
After surrendering himself to the authorities, he initially maintained his innocence, first pleading not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and firearms possession.