Chicago rapper G Herbo and two other men were arrested after their limousine driver tipped off police that some of his passengers had weapons, prosecutors said. After the driver alerted police, officers did surveillance on the limousine, prosecutors said.
About 10:30 p.m. Thursday, officers curbed the limousine in the first block of East Roosevelt Road in the South Loop neighborhood, prosecutors said at a bail hearing Friday afternoon.
Once the officers stopped the vehicle, three men, including G Herbo, exited.
One of the men, Deavonte Royale Kimble, 25, of Compton, Calif., was seated alone in the third row of the vehicle and was the last person to get out. Officers found a Glock directly below where he was sitting, prosecutors said.
In court Friday, Defense Attorney William Laws appeared with all three men.
“Mr. Kimble is 25 years of age, he does have a local residence. He does have his GED. He is a music producer, he’s been involved in the music industry… A weapon was found under a seat inside the car,” said Laws.
He added Kimble made no oral statement to police whether he had knowledge of the gun.
Assistant State’s Attorney Lorraine Scaduto argued Friday that one of the men charged, Marchello Walton, 36, of Phenix City, Ala., was observed in the front seat when the limousine was stopped. He had a gym bag with a drawstring that contained a loaded pistol with 21 rounds in the magazine, Scaduto said.
“Mr. Walton is 36 years of age, he too is involved in the music industry. He also has an address where he can stay in the city,” Laws said.
He added Walton is a graduate of Morehouse College where he majored in education, and he has three children that he supports.
“Never seen touching or handling the weapon,” Laws said.
As for G Herbo, Scaduto said he was observed in the rear driver-side passenger seat and officers saw him placing a handgun in the pocket directly in front of him. She said the gun was a Fabrique National loaded with rounds designed to penetrate body armor. There was one in the chamber and 30 in the magazine, she said.
Defense Attorney William Laws told the court that Herbert Wright, 22, who raps under name G Herbo, has a fiancee who is 8-months pregnant who he plans to marry in six months. G Herbo has no prior felonies, no violent background and has been a lifetime resident of Chicago, he said.
None of the men had firearm owner’s identification cards, prosecutors said. All three were charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Wright has worked with fellow Chicago rapper Lil Bibby, as well as Nicki Minaj, Chance the Rapper and Common.
He was ordered held on $25,000 bail. Walton, who has a 2009 conviction in Georgia for aggravated battery, was given a $15,000 bond and Kimble was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail.
All three will be placed on electronic monitoring.
