Lil' Kim Reports to Detention Center

ap on Yahoo ^ | 9/19/05 | Kathy Matheson - ap

[NormsRevenge]

PHILADELPHIA - Rapper Lil' Kim began serving a 366-day prison sentence Monday for her conviction on charges stemming from a 2001 shootout outside a New York City radio station.

The 30-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was whisked into the federal detention center past a throng of media, fans and passers-by at about 4:45 p.m.

Earlier, she issued a statement saying she had "unfortunately" been assigned to the concrete, high-rise Philadelphia facility instead of to a prison camp "as discussed."

She added: "I am not certain that this constitutes fair and equal treatment."

Her lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, said a celebrity like Lil' Kim could be in danger in the detention center.

"Why should a female hip-hop artist have to spend time in an urban concrete jungle while other female prisoners are assigned to rural, suburban-type prison camps?" said McMillan, adding that he would seek to have his client reassigned.

Calls to the federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service were not returned Monday.

The 4-foot-11 rapper, who was convicted of lying about the gun battle to a federal grand jury and in the subsequent trial, brought about 20 to 25 people to Philadelphia with her in two RVs. Her mother, brother and lawyer were allowed to accompany her briefly into the detention center to say goodbye, McMillan said.

"She was upbeat, smiling," he said. "She told her mom not to cry and to stay strong."

Lil' Kim will be assigned to a female work cadre at the coed prison, McMillan said, noting that she could be out in nine months with good behavior.

"Today begins a new saga in my life which I expect to strengthen me and allow me time for reflection," Lil' Kim said in her statement. "I plan to write music while in prison, read and pray regularly and will come out a stronger, more confident woman."

The gunplay erupted outside WQHT-FM, known as Hot 97, in Manhattan when Lil' Kim's entourage crossed paths with a rival rap group, Capone-N-Noreaga.

Lil' Kim's group confronted the others about the Capone-N-Noreaga song "Bang, Bang," which contained an insult to Lil' Kim from rival Foxy Brown. One man was hurt in the shootout that followed.

Before the grand jury and at the trial, the rapper claimed she did not notice two of her close friends at the scene of the shootout — her manager, Damion Butler, and Suif Jackson. Both have pleaded guilty to gun charges.

Jurors at Lil' Kim's trial saw radio station security photos that depicted Butler opening a door for the rap star, and two witnesses who once made records with Lil' Kim said they saw her at the station with Butler and Jackson. She was convicted of perjury and conspiracy.

Though several high-profile male rappers — including Beanie Sigel and Tupac Shakur — have done time in jail, Lil' Kim is the first big-name female rapper to serve a prison sentence.

Lil' Kim's fourth album, "The Naked Truth," is due out next week. She won a Grammy in 2001 for her part in the hit remake of "Lady Marmalade."

At last month's MTV Video Music Awards, MTV personality Sway delicately asked if she had anything to say to fans who "might not see you for a while."

"You can write me letters," Lil' Kim said.

[NormsRevenge]

Lil' Kim whose real name is Kimberly Jones exits Manhattan federal court following her sentencing, Wednesday, July 5, 2005, in New York. Kim was given a one year and one day sentence and a $50,000 fine for lying to the grand jury in connection with a shootout outside a Manhattan radio station in 2001. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)

[July 4th]

Ha ha! Sucks for her!

[NormsRevenge]

Aretha FRanklin gave us 'R E S P E C T'

Lil Kim adds a twist and gives us 'C O N V I C T'

[solitas]

Too bad we can't get Li'l "I'm so ronery" Kim banged-up too (for the rest of his life).

[Tennessee_Bob]

I have to say...I'm shocked by that picture. I've never seen her wearing so...so many clothes!

[Khurkris]

Go & see...http://images.google.com/images?q=lil+kim&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

heh heh heh...

[Gator101]

I've never seen her wearing so...so many clothes!

LOL! Me neither. I didn't recognize her in that picture!

[Always Right]

She is a modest one.

[Tennessee_Bob]

She seems like such a nice, wholesome girl. I'd like to take her home to meet my parents.

Then they'd get off my case about dating again.

[SkyPilot]

"Why should a female hip-hop artist have to spend time in an urban concrete jungle while other female prisoners are assigned to rural, suburban-type prison camps?"

Uh, because she is a US citizen who has been found guilty by a court of law?

Rich CEO's don't get "special treatment" - and neither do "Female Hip-Hop 'Artists'"

Pathetic.

[Steely Tom]

I spent quite a bit of time in an office overlooking a high-rise federal BOP facility in Philadelphia; if I recall correctly it was called a "transfer center." Thus it may not be the same place. It was at Arch Street, between 6th and 7th. Quite tall (like 11 stories). Shouting and yelling 24 hours a day from the yard, which was up about six stories.

Entrance is roughly two blocks away; the only access is through an underground tunnel. It is built for very high security. Gun ports visible on all walls at street level. Impressive.

[SteveMcKing]

Very well put.

In any case, now she'll see how glamorous gangster life can be, since she loves singing about it.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

She looks like a black Susan Atkins

[BenLurkin]

Tell you what.

You date Susan.

I'll date Lil' Kim.

[FierceDraka]

Homina homina homina!

I could care less for Lil Kim's lifestyle, but DANG! She's quite the lil knockout when she's all tarted-up.

[Intolerant in NJ]

...brought about 20 to 25 people to Philadelphia...and on the same day in the same city a former muslim cleric and confidente of Democrat mayor John Street was sentenced to seven years in prison for using his political contacts to secure public dollars to set up phoney scam training programs - but of course Street knew nothing about any of it......