Crime

Offset's now facing a felony gun possession charge ... the fallout from his arrest last summer in Georgia.

Prosecutors filed 3 charges against the rapper in February, stemming from his July 2018 arrest where he was pulled over for allegedly making an improper lane change.

The Clayton County D.A.'s Office tells TMZ ... Offset's facing a felony charge for firearms possession by a convicted felon, along with misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession and that lane change.

The good news for Offset -- a felony charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime was dropped.

He entered a plea of not guilty last month and his next court date is scheduled for May.

We broke the story ... the Migos rapper's lawyer believes Offset was targeted because he's rich, successful and black, and believes the cop's initial traffic stop was completely bogus.

11:05 AM PT -- Mark and Tina tell TMZ, "At first we thought this comical legal document was a parody. Instead, this so-called lawsuit by the brothers is more of their lawyer driven nonsense, and a desperate attempt for them to stay relevant and further profit from an attack they admit they perpetrated."

They continue, "While we know this ridiculous lawsuit will soon be dismissed because it lacks any legal footing, we look forward to exposing the fraud the Osundairo brothers and their attorneys have committed on the public."

9:43 AM PT -- Ola was out and about Monday afternoon in Chicago ... looking carefree a day before he his brother, Abel, filed a lawsuit in federal court. Ola's asked if he thinks Jussie owes the City of Chicago an apology. He seems more psyched hanging out with his boy and their exotic pets.

8:35 AM PT -- The presser just ended and NOBODY asked why Abel and Ola are NOT suing Jussie. The brothers' attorney, Gloria Schmidt, read a statement on behalf of the brothers ... saying they can no longer sit back and watch lie after lie being fabricated about them.

7:45 AM PT -- The brothers' attorneys are holding a news conference in Chicago, and we'll be live streaming. The big question, of course ... WHY didn't Abel and Ola sue Jussie Smollett???

The 2 brothers who allegedly faked the Jussie Smollett attack are suing the actor's lawyers, Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian, for defamation, claiming the attorneys lied to the media and tried to make it appear Ola and Abel Osundairo were the culprits in a real, homophobic and racist attack.

The brothers filed the case in Chicago federal court, claiming Jussie "used his clout as a wealthy actor to influence [the brothers] who were in a subordinate relationship to him and were aspiring to 'make it.'"

The suit says when Tina Glandian went on 'GMA,' "Today" and the Reasonable Doubt podcast after the charges against Jussie were dismissed, she told a string of lies ... including the brothers wore whiteface during the attack and the brothers were involved in an illegal Nigerian steroid trafficking ring.

The lawsuit also claims Glandian falsely claimed one of the brothers "engaged in fornication with Mr. Smollett."

As for Geragos, the suit claims he "repeatedly indicated that plaintiffs conspired to criminally attack Mr. Smollett, and by doing so, implied plaintiffs committed perjury" to the Grand Jury and conspired to make false statements to the Chicago PD.

The suit doubles down and says the brothers never knew Jussie would go to the cops ... rather, he was staging the "attack" for social media.

The brothers say as a result of the alleged defamation they suffered extreme emotional distress, humiliation, anxiety, damages to their reputation, and damages to current and prospective business relations.

As we reported, Ola and Abel have had a tough time finding work, both as actors and personal trainers, in the wake of the scandal.

One final thing ... it's interesting the brothers did not sue Jussie, who also claimed they were the culprits in the alleged racist and homophobic attack.

7:45 AM PT -- A judge ruled Mingbi will be released on $5,000 bond on the condition she surrenders her passport and does not work in the spa/massage industry.

Cops have arrested another woman in the Robert Kraft prostitution case -- a 58-year-old who allegedly performed a sexual act on the Patriots owner with another woman at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.

Jupiter Police arrested Shen Mingbi -- who cops say was in the massage room with Kraft on January 19, 2019.

According to the police report, Kraft was joined in the massage room by 2 women -- one of whom was Mingbi.

Officials say the encounter was captured on surveillance and shows both Mingbi and Lei Wang using their hands on Kraft's penis.

Officials say Mingbi was also involved in sexual acts with several other men at the spa.

Wang had already been arrested and charged in the case -- but now, officials have busted Mingbi too.

Mingbi has been formally charged with 1 count of deriving support from prostitution and 8 counts of offer to commit prostitution. She's in court right now (Tuesday) to face the charges.

As for Kraft, he's got a hearing on Friday where he'll continue to fight to block officials from releasing the spa video to the media.

Kraft has claimed the release of the video would hamper his ability to get a fair trial because it would taint the jury pool.

7:15 PM PT -- The Sacramento Kings tell TMZ Sports, "We are aware of the report and are gathering additional information. We have no further comment at this time."

Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton is being sued for sexually assaulting a female sports reporter who claims he forced himself on her in his hotel room ... this according to a new lawsuit.

In legal docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Kelli Tennant claims while Walton was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, he asked her to come and meet him at the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica to drop off a book she had published.

FYI, Walton worked for the Warriors until April 2016, when he left to become the head coach of the Lakers.

In her suit, Tennant -- who worked as a reporter for Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA -- says the 2 had a business relationship that went back several years and that's why she had asked him to write the foreword in her book.

Tennant claims when she arrived at Walton's hotel, he convinced her to come up to his room so they could "catch up." But when they got to his room, Walton suddenly pinned her to the bed, placing his hips and legs over her body.

In the docs, Tennant claims Walton began forcing kisses on her neck, face and chest. She claims she screamed for him to stop and tried to free herself, but he held her down, groped her breasts and groin, and rubbed his erection on her leg.

Tennant claims she was "in shock and fear. She was afraid she was about to be raped," the suit states.

Tennant claims Walton eventually relented and let her get up from the bed, but as she was walking toward the door to leave, he grabbed her from behind and again forced his body up against hers.

Tennant claims when Walton finally stopped and released her -- he walked her out of the room as if nothing had happened.

"He smiled, laughed again and made the disturbing statement, 'Good to see you,'" Tennant claims in her suit.

Tennant claims she did not initially report Walton's conduct but was forced to continually interact with him because of her job. She says each time she saw him, Walton would make implied threats of additional physical threats through his conduct -- imposing himself on her with big hugs or a kiss, even though she thought she made it clear his advances were unwanted.

In the suit, Tennant claims in May 2017 -- while Walton was the head coach of the Lakers -- there was an incident when Walton greeted her by uttering "vulgar, guttural sounds at her" and said, "mmmm ... you're killing me in that dress."

She says Walton also forced an aggressive hug on her and rubbed his body against hers.

It's unclear, based on the docs, what finally prompted Tennant to come forward with her allegations.

Luke recently left his position as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and is now coaching the Sacramento Kings.

Our camera guys spotted Luke and his wife Bre leaving dinner at Avra in Beverly Hills over the weekend, but they weren't in the mood to talk. Unclear if he knew Tennant was planning to file her lawsuit at the time.

We reached out to Walton's reps for comment ... so far, no word back.

4/23 9:45 AM PT -- Culwell has been charged with 7 felony counts of animal cruelty, plus 7 misdemeanor counts of abandoning the dogs. She's facing 7 years in prison, if convicted.

6:43 PM PT -- A suspect is now in custody. Deborah Sue Culwell, a 54-year-old resident of Coachella, was arrested Monday around 5:30 PM PT.

Authorities are about to nab the woman caught on video throwing a bag of puppies into a dumpster in the city of Coachella ... TMZ has learned.

The Riverside County Animal Services has ID'd the woman and the agency says an arrest is imminent. We're told she'll face 7 felony counts of animal cruelty.

As we reported ... the woman was caught on video last week pulling up in a white Jeep Wrangler. She was seen carrying a bag of what turned out to be seven 3-day-old puppies ... which she then dumped into a trash bin. The puppies damn near died were it not for a Good Samaritan.

As you know ... it can get really hot in Coachella. It was in the mid-90s when the puppies were found. They were barely breathing when they were found by an individual rummaging through the trash bin. The puppies were taken to an Orange County shelter where they recovered.

If convicted on all counts, she faces up to 6 years behind bars.

Atlanta Falcons legend Roddy White was arrested in Georgia earlier this month -- after he was pulled over for a stupid carpool lane mishap ... and cops noticed a warrant out for his arrest.

Gwinnett County police officers say they saw the 37-year-old WR crossing the double lines to enter the carpool lane on I-85 on April 12 -- a big no-no -- and claimed Roddy's bonehead move put other drivers in danger.

During the stop, cops ran Roddy's name in the system and that's when things went from bad to worse ...

Turns out, there's a warrant out for Roddy -- who allegedly blew off a court date from a previous legal situation.

Cops say Roddy's driver's license had also been suspended -- so, he was arrested and hauled to a nearby station where he was booked and processed. His car, an Audi A8L, was impounded.

Unclear what the previous violation is ... but it seems to be another traffic-related incident since his license was suspended.

The whole thing sounds VERY similar to the case of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette -- who was arrested in Florida earlier this month when a routine traffic stop revealed a warrant and suspended license too.

In Fournette's case, he had failed to pay a speeding ticket -- and then failed to show up to court. When he was stopped on April 11, cops handcuffed him at a car wash and took him in.

Fournette later paid the fine and now the case is closed. Seems like White will have a similar outcome.

We reached out to Roddy for comment -- so far, no word back.

YNW Melly's murder case just got way more serious than it already was ... because the State of Florida is seeking the death penalty.

As you know ... YNW Melly has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Cops say the rapper shot two of his friends back in October, then staged the crime scene to look like a drive-by shooting.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the State intends to seek the death penalty against Melly.

In the docs, the State says it believes it can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Melly killed his friends for financial gain, the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, and he committed homicide in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner. The State also believes Melly is a criminal gang member.

As we've reported ... cops say YNW Melly and his friend, Cortlen Henry, shot victims Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in the head, torso and back. Police say Melly and Henry shot up their own car to make it look like a drive-by, and then dropped the victims off at the ER, where they were pronounced dead.

9:18 AM PT -- A source close to R. Kelly tells us the Rolls isn't his.

R. Kelly's struggling to make ends meet and facing possible jail time if he can't come up with child support soon -- but if he's sweating, he sure as hell ain't showing it.

The troubled singer was out on Easter Sunday chilling in front of his Trump Tower condo building in Chicago. He puffed on a cigar, right down to the stub, while chatting on his cell phone.

He also happens to be sitting right next to a Rolls-Royce. We don't know that it's his, but image is everything.

We broke the story ... jail could be looming for Kelly again after failing to pay child support to his ex, Drea Kelly, the past 2 months. He's required to pay her $20,833 a month, and although he's asking the judge to lower the amount ... he's on the hook for now. The judge will hear his case next month, though.

As you know, Kelly was jailed in early March after racking up a $161,633 child support delinquency ... shortly after he was arrested on sexual abuse charges. He was released after someone covered his tab.

The men who allegedly "attacked" Jussie Smollett at his behest are feeling the pain in the aftermath of the whole debacle ... because their acting careers have taken a major blow.

Sources close to the Osundairo brothers -- Abel and Ola -- tell TMZ ... the 2 have come up empty trying to land an agent in the past several weeks. We're told they've reached out to about 10 of the top agencies in Chicago and none have been interested in signing them.

This especially hurts right now because it's pilot season in the TV biz, and actors like the bros can't even get auditions without an agent.

What's worse is Abel actually HAD signed with the Gray Talent Group about a month before his involvement in the Jussie drama became known, and got dropped shortly afterward.

The reason he was given, according to our sources, was generic and didn't mention the Smollett case ... but it was obvious. We're told the agency told Abel it couldn't provide him the opportunities he desired, adding ... "parting ways with talented actors like yourself is a difficult decision and not a direct reflection on your character or your abilities."

Unfortunately for the Osundairos ... their fitness biz has tapered off as well. Our sources say while it seemed to be booming about a month ago, many of their potential clients turned out to be feigning interest in getting in shape and were really looking to get details on Jussie's case.

The good news -- at least for Abel -- is his boxing career is on the rise. He followed up his win in the semifinals of the prestigious Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament last month by winning the whole damn amateur competition last Friday ... in the first round.

Scott Speer roughed up his wife during a drunken rampage before trying to burn their house down, and he's now been booked for arson ... according to law enforcement sources.

The "Step Up Revolution" filmmaker was arrested last week at his San Fernando Valley home after cops and firefighters arrived at their place for an alleged domestic dispute.

We're told Speer had been drinking heavily when he got into a fight with his wife, who allegedly suffered some minor injuries. Cops say the spat culminated with Scott setting fire to a broom with the intention of lighting up the whole house.

Fortunately, the flames were extinguished ... but Speer was hauled away by cops and is facing a felony charge for arson. We're told domestic violence charges are possible as well.

Speer's bond was set at $250k ... he's posted it and has been released from custody.

We reached out to him ... no word back so far.

Kodak Black's bust at the Canada-U.S. border could have HUGE ramifications ... in South Carolina.

Sources in the Florence County Solicitor’s Office tell TMZ ... prosecutors in the Palmetto State have the rapper's drugs and gun bust on their radar and are currently reviewing the case to determine if he violated bond conditions in his sexual misconduct case.

We're told if it's determined Kodak violated the terms, prosecutors would hold a hearing where they'll ask a judge to revoke his bond. Last we checked, prosecutors have yet to do that.

As we reported ... Kodak was indicted in April 2017 after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teenager at a hotel in South Carolina. He's been out on $100k bond ever since.

Fast forward to earlier this week ... cops found a Glock 9mm pistol and weed in the Cadillac Escalade the rapper was driving after he tried crossing back on U.S. soil at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

As we told you ... Kodak blamed his damn GPS for making him drive into Canada. He posted a $20k cash bond and hid behind a wad of cash as he left jail.

This is utterly despicable.

A woman in Coachella was caught on video throwing a bag of 3-day-old puppies in a dumpster ... and now cops are on the hunt to find her.

The Riverside County Animal Services released security footage showing a woman pulling up in a white Jeep Wrangler at a local business earlier this week and tossing a bag filled with 7 puppies into the trash bin. About an hour later, someone rummaging through the trash bin discovered the puppies.

As you know, this time of year it's incredibly hot out there ... and it was around the mid-90s when this terrible incident happened. Fortunately, the puppies survived the ordeal and are being cared for at an Orange County rescue shelter.

Nipsey Hussle's murderer made a mad dash to a car with a driver who was waiting to speed away from the murder scene -- and it's all captured on video.

TMZ has seen the video -- shot from a surveillance camera in the area. You see the shooter race down an alley to the waiting car. The killer stops at the car for a second, then gets inside the passenger seat and the driver floors it. It's apparent from the video ... the driver was waiting to bolt from the scene.

As we reported, the driver of the car was interviewed by LAPD detectives 2 days after the murder, but was allowed to leave without being arrested. As we reported, law enforcement sources told TMZ, "Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot." The clear intimation ... the driver was giving cops info.

It's now been several weeks and the driver still has not been arrested, although, our law enforcement sources tell us the LAPD and the L.A. County D.A. are "actively investigating."

One law enforcement source tells us, one of the hangups is whether the driver had knowledge the killer -- whom police believe is Eric Holder -- had a gun and was intent on murdering Nipsey. We're told the driver insisted she did not know his intent or that he was armed.

Our sources say when the car initially rolled up to The Marathon Clothing store, Holder was driving and the woman was the passenger. We're told Holder parked in the mini-mall parking lot next to the store. As the woman waited in the car, Nipsey and Holder had their initial conversation, in which Nipsey rebuffed him after suggesting he was a snitch -- which Holder denied.

Contrary to some reports, we're told the conversation continued without animosity. The 2 engaged in some sort of friendly hand gesture, after which, Holder walked over to the burger joint in the same mall, ordered something and eventually got in the car and left.

We're told the car returned a short time later to a street that is connected to the alley that leads to the mall. The woman was driving and Holder was a passenger. We're told after Holder got out and walked toward the mall, she kept the car running and waited for him to return.

Kodak Black is staring down the possibility of missing more shows on his tour, because Canadian authorities could bar him from entering the country for a couple of scheduled gigs North of the border.

Kodak's got concerts on deck Monday in Montreal and Tuesday in Toronto, but those shows are now in limbo because of his drug and gun bust at the Canada-U.S. border.

Sources at the Canada Border Services Agency tell TMZ ... anyone crossing the border into Canada must demonstrate that they meet the requirements to enter or stay in the country, and involvement in criminal activity is grounds to bar someone from entering.

Our sources at the CBSA wouldn't comment on whether or not Kodak would be admitted into Canada for his gigs, telling us everyone's eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.

However, our law enforcement sources tell us anyone with a serious criminal history or anyone facing serious felony charges will likely have a difficult time entering Canada. We're told it's unlikely Kodak will be allowed into the country for those shows.

Kodak has some options if he's denied entry, such as requesting a Temporary Resident Permit ... but again, our sources say it's very unlikely Kodak would apply for the permit, because he doesn't meet all its criteria.

We broke the story ... Kodak was arrested on on weapons and drug charges at the U.S. border in New York after cutting through Canada on his way from Detroit to Boston. Cops say they found weed on Kodak and a gun in the car he was driving.

It was back in July when G-Eazy was denied entry into the country after his cocaine arrest during a trip to Sweden ... Chris Brown faced the same fate in 2015 because of his criminal past.

Kodak already missed shows in Boston and Connecticut because of the bust, and now it's looking increasingly likely he will miss at least 2 more.

We reached out to Live Nation for a status update on Kodak's Canadian gigs ... so far, no word back.

"I think prosecutors in this country should have something much better to do."

That's Robert Shapiro -- a famous piece of O.J. Simpson's dream team -- going scorched Earth on prosecutors in the Robert Kraft case, telling TMZ Sports they ALL should be ashamed of themselves.

"You know what, I think this case is something that the people that are prosecuting and the people that are investigating should be ashamed of," Shapiro said leaving the restaurant, E Baldi, this week.

"There is so much crime going on in this country and to take valuable assets and time from law enforcement to enforce something that has nothing to do with the allegations they're bringing, I think it's just irresponsible."

Of course, Kraft is currently in the fight of his life down in Florida ... fending off charges of soliciting prostitutes and scrapping like hell to block videos of the alleged incident from getting out to the public.

Shapiro thinks it's straight-up ridiculous that the 77-year-old is going through this ... telling us prosecutors in the case should just drop the charges now and move on.

"It's a very private, personal matter," Shapiro says ... "He's moved on and I think prosecutors in this country should have something much better to do."

Erik Kramer just caught a huge break in his domestic violence case ... the ex-Bears QB won't spend a day behind bars despite admitting to roughing up his wife last year.

Kramer was arrested after he told cops he got physical with Cortney Baird during a fight at their Agoura Hills home in June 2018.

Baird claimed Kramer flipped out after she confronted him about an argument the two previously had ... saying Erik got violent and threw various household items at her.

Kramer was eventually charged with one count of misdemeanor battery for the incident ... and faced up to six months in jail if convicted.

But, TMZ Sports has learned the judge ordered Erik into an 18-month mental health diversion program ... meaning if he keeps his nose clean for the next year and a half, his charge will be dropped.

We're told Kramer is due back in court in August for a progress report hearing.