[Gina1201]

From mtv.com

Federal investigators searched the New York offices of Murder Inc., the record label home of Ja Rule and Ashanti, on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into label head Irv Gotti, according to The Los Angeles Times.

On Saturday, the newspaper reported that a yearlong investigation into an alleged financial link between Gotti and a New York drug gang called the "Supreme Team" led to the raid. Authorities are reportedly investigating whether or not money from drug tafficking helped Gotti, real name Irving Lorenzo, break into the music business. Specifically, authorities are reportedly investigating an alleged link between Gotti and Kenneth McGriff, the convicted head of the Supreme Team.

The Times also reported that authorities are looking into allegations of money laundering and a number of attacks as part of their investigation.

Agents from the FBI and the New York Police Department reportedly seized computers and documents during the raid, according to the Times.

McGriff — who co-produced and co-wrote the Murder Inc. film "Crime Partners 2000" — was reportedly arrested in 1988 and eventually convicted on federal narcotics conspiracy charges.

Part Two

Officials raided Murder Inc.'s recording studio, nicknamed "The Crackhouse," on Friday in addition to searching the label's midtown Manhattan offices, music industry sources said Monday.

A joint task force of federal investigators and NYPD officers searched the locations as part of a probe looking into alleged ties between Murder Inc. and convicted drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff (see "Murder Inc. Offices Raided By Feds").

According to the FBI, no one was arrested during the raids, but two men have been arrested elsewhere in connection with the larger investigation. The two are suspected to be associates of McGriff, but it is not known whether they are also involved with Murder Inc., the hip-hop/R&B label home to artists such as Ja Rule and Ashanti.

While fans of Murder Inc.'s music may be unfamiliar with McGriff, the Queens native co-wrote and executive produced the 2001 straight-to-video street drama "Crime Partners 2000," which starred a number of hip-hop artists, including Murder Inc.'s own Ja Rule and Charli Baltimore.

The movie is an adaptation of the Donald Goines novel "Crime Partners," which McGriff read while in jail on drug charges. According to documents from the United States District Court, McGriff was the leader of Jamaica, Queens, street gang the Supreme Team and oversaw a crack cocaine distribution ring that earned $200,000 a day. He was convicted of narcotics conspiracy in 1987 and spent 10 years in federal prison before being released on a technicality.

McGriff is reportedly awaiting sentencing on a 2001 gun possession charge that may send him to jail for another five years.

Ja Rule refused to comment on the matter Monday while visiting MTV to appear on "TRL." Murder Inc. and its parent companies Def Jam Records and the Universal Music Group also declined to comment.