The Jimmy Rosemond Tapes

Jimmy Henchman aka Jimmy Rosemond is well known in hip-hop circles and in the streets. He was railroaded by the feds and convicted of running a cocaine empire. He is now housed in the federal Bureau of Prisons serving multiple life sentences but there are a lot of questions and inconsistencies concerning his case. Filmmaker Don Sikorski uncovers the truths, half-truths and outright lies in regards to Jimmy Rosemond in a new documentary series. Gorilla Convict sat down with Don to discuss the case, how Jimmy is doing, his new site G2G and what else he has in the works.

Lets talk about the Jimmy Rosemond Tapes. How did you get involved with that?

I MET JIMMY SIX YEARS AGO THRU A FRIEND TONE BOOTS. AT THE TIME JIMMY WANTED TO PRODUCE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN TO FEDERAL JAIL, AND UPON RELEASE HAD FOUND MAINSTREAM SUCCESS. I STARTED DIRECTING THAT FILM AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS ALWAYS RUMORS THAT HE WAS BEING WATCHED BY THE FEDS. HALFWAY THRU THE PROCESS JIMMY LOST CONTACT COMPLETELY. I DIDN’T KNOW WHY AT THE TIME, BUT LOOKING BACK THIS WAS THE HEIGHT OF WHEN THE DEA AND THE US ATTORNEY WERE BUILDING A CASE ON HIM. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO THRU A THIRD PARTY I WAS PUT ON THE PHONE WITH JIMMY FROM THE FEDERAL PRISON IN WEST VIRGINIA. HE ASKED ME IF I WAS INTERESTED IN TELLING HIS STORY, A STORY THAT ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIP-HOP HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHROUDED IN MYSTERY. HE GAVE ME COMPLETE ACCESS. AND HE GAVE ME EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE THE GOVERNMENT COMPILED ON HIM. I SAT AT MY HOUSE FOR THIRTY DAYS STRAIGHT AND READ THRU EVERYTHING. THEN OVER THE COURSE OF DECEMBER JIMMY STARTED CALLING ME EVERYDAY ANDI RECORDED CLOSE TO 60 HOURS OF INTERVIEW FOOTAGE WITH JIMMY. EVERY MORNING IT WAS LIKE WAKING UP TO A DIFFERENT MOVIE AND THE STORIES HE WAS TELLING WERE EPIC. AFTER THESE INTERVIEWS I KNEW THAT THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT STORY THAT SPANNED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF HIP-HOP MUSIC, CRIME, BUSINESS AND CULTURE. I THINK JIMMY HAS BEEN HAUNTED BY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY HIM THAT WERE BLATANTLY JUST UNTRUE. JIMMY DOES NOT SAY HE WAS A BOY SCOUT, BUT THE NARRATIVE THE US ATTORNEY CREATED IS SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH IT IS VERY SCARY. IT IS SCARY TO SEE WHAT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN DO, AND JIMMY HAD VERY HIGH POWERED LAWYERS. THERE IS SO MANY WEIRD, AND ODD THINGS THAT WENT ON IN THIS CASE I COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR ONE HUNDRED HOURS.

https://youtu.be/kB4fZd93eL8

What is the web series about?

THIS WEB SERIES WILL TELL THE REAL STORY OF JIMMY’S LIFE AND THE THREE TRIALS THAT WENT ON. THE FEDERAL DRUG KINGPIN OR CCE TRIAL, AND THE TWO MURDER FOR HIRE TRIALS, THE FIRST ONE ENDED IN A HUNG JURY. I AM GOING TO REALLY EXAMINE THE TRUTH OF THESE CASES, AND CLEAR THE RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT A LOT OF GOSSIP, INNUENDO AND FLAT OUT LIES THAT HAVE BEEN FORTH AS TRUTH. FOR ME IT JUST HAPPENED THAT AS I WAS INVESTIGATING JIMMY’S STORY, NETFLIX RELEASED MAKING A MURDERER. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I HAD HIP-HOP’S VERSION OF THAT, WITH A LITTLE OF FOX’S HIT SHOW EMPIRE ON TOP OF IT. A STORY LIKE JIMMY’S ONLY COMES ALONG EVERY SO OFTEN. I AM ALSO IN TALKS WITH A BUNCH OF DISTRIBUTORS SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SERIES GETS MORE THAN A WEB RELEASE, BUT I DON’T WANT TO WAIT ON ANY NETWORKS. IF I HAVE TO I WILL DISTRIBUTE IT ON GO TO GROUND.

How many episodes are planned and what will they cover?

RIGHT NOW WE ARE PLANNING 12 EPISODES. I SAY RIGHT NOW IN THAT THERE IS SO MUCH GROUND TO COVER IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED, THE US ATTORNEY AND DEA INVESTIGATED JIMMY FOR AT LEAST 8 YEARS, NOT ONLY HIS FINANCIALS, BUT EVERY ASPECT OF HIS BUSINESS AND LIFE. US ATTORNEY TODD KAMINSKY REALLY WANTED TO CONVICT JIMMY BAD. THE STORIES ABOUT HOW HE WENT ABOUT THAT I THINK WILL SHOW A PATTERN OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND FLAT OUT LIES PUT FORTH TO CONVICT HIM.

What do you think is the fascination with Jimmy Rosemond?

THE FASCINATION I THINK IS THAT JIMMY WAS FOR WHATEVER REASON THE BOOGIE MAN OF HIP-HOP. HE WAS THAT NEXUS OF CRIME, DRUGS, VIOLENCE AND THE BUSINESS OF HIP-HOP AND HE RARELY IF EVER TALKED. I THINK PEOPLE JUST DON’T KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED AROUND THE SHOOTING OF TUPAC AT QUAD STUDIOS, THE WAR THAT WENT ON BETWEEN 50 CENT AND JIMMY, AND CHRIS LIGHTY. AND JIMMY WAS ABLE TO BECOME EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN A LEGITIMATE WAY. HE MAKES NO EXCUSES FOR HIS PAST, AND WHAT HE DID. I THINK THERE IS IMMENSE REGRET ABOUT HIS CHOICES. FOR ME I CAN’T IMAGINE A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER LIKE THE LA TIMES PRINTING A STORY ABOUT ME THAT WAS COMPLETELY FALSE. THAT JUST NEVER GOES AWAY.

What was his impact on hip-hop?

HIS IMPACT WAS WIDE. HE WORKED WITH A TON OF PEOPLE PUBLICLY AND ALSO HELPED A LOT OF GUYS OUT. JIMMY WAS THE GUY WHO WANTED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. HE WAS A WICKED NEGOTIATOR AND HE WAS INVOLVED IN A TON OF STUFF THAT I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE. I THINK HE ULTIMATELY WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WRONG THINGS.

What is the concept behind G2G News?

I STARTED G2G NEWS AS A CONTENT INCUBATOR AND A WEBSITE THAT COULD COVER THE VARIOUS CONFLICTS GOING ON INSIDE AMERICA. THE TAG LINE IS WAR REPORTING IN AMERICA. THE WARS ON IMMIGRATION, DRUGS, CRIME, JAIL, POLITICS, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT REALLY ARE WITHIN THE UNDERBELLY OF AMERICA. G2G WAS MY ANSWER TO VICE IN THAT I DON’T FEEL LIKE ANYONE COMPETES WITH VICE. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A SMALL SLICE OF THEIR MARKET SHARE.

What is City Wars?

CITY WARS IS A DOCUMENTARY SERIES THAT WILL COVER ISSUES WITHIN OUR AMERICAN CITIES. I STARTED IT IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT WHERE I FOLLOWED JOE GANIM, THE FORMER MAYOR OF BRIDGEPORT DURING THE 90S. HE GOT CAUGHT IN A PAY FOR PLAY SCANDAL AND SERVED 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL JAIL. 8 MONTHS AGO HE SET OUT TO BECOME THE MAYOR AGAIN. I FOLLOWED HIM THRU THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN AND ULTIMATELY HIS VICTORY. WE ARE NOW FOLLOWING HIM INSIDE THE WALLS OF CITY HALL. CITY WARS FOR ME IS THE SAME MODEL AS WHAT DAVID SIMON DID IN THE WIRE, BUT REAL LIFE. SIMON TOOK, DRUGS, EDUCATION, POLITICS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TOLD THOSE STORIES THRU EACH SEASON OF THE WIRE. CITY WARS IS GOING TO CHICAGO NEXT TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE VIOLENCE THERE. CITY WARS WILL TRY AND COVER ISSUES THAT REALLY EFFECT INNER CITIES.

You’ve been doing this type of stuff for a minute, but break down the projects you have been involved with over the years for the uninitiated?

I STARTED WITH A FILM CALLED RAP SHEET: HIP-HOP AND THE COPS. I SPENT THREE YEARS INVESTIGATING THE EXISTENCE OF AN NYPD-DEA TASK FORCE THAT MANY PEOPLE CALLED THE HIP-HOP COPS. THE FILM EXAMINED THIS ISSUE FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE AND ALSO FROM THE RAPPERS POINT OF VIEW. I THINK I INTERVIEWED CLOSE TO 100 ARTISTS DURING THAT TIME, EVEN SUGE KNIGHT APPEARED ON CAMERA. WHICH IS A FUNNY STORY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SECURE THE INTERVIEW I WAS FOLLOWED BY THE FEDS IN LA AS I CAME AND WENT TO THE DEATH ROW OFFICES. AFTER THREE YEARS INSIDE THE HIP-HOP INDUSTRY I REALLY WANTED TO BRANCH OUT AND THAT IS WHEN I DID A FILM CALLED ARTICLE 32. I FELT I NEEDED TO TELL A STORY THAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ. THIS WAS A STORY WHERE 8 MARINES HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN IRAQ, OF A VILLAGER. I FOLLOWED THE MARINES THRU THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH IS A VERY CORRUPT PLACE. IT WAS A SAD, BUT VERY IMPORTANT STORY ABOUT THAT CONFLICT AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. I ALSO DID A DOC ON BMF. MEECH AND TERRY FLENORY. THAT FILM WAS VERY HARD. I HAD AN EXTREMELY SMALL BUDGET AND THAT CASE WAS TEN YEARS. I WAS GIVEN ACCESS BY THE DEA TO ALL OF THEIR WORK, AND I WENT AND MET MEECH IN JAIL. LOOKING BACK I WISH I HAD MORE DOLLARS ON THAT ONE. IT WAS THE HARDEST FILM TO MAKE BECAUSE OF THAT. ANDY RATH WHO EDITED THAT FILM AND PRODUCED WITH ME GETS A TON OF CREDIT ON THAT FILM, HE BUSTED HIS ASS. PEOPLE SEEM TO ENJOY THE FILM, AND IT SEEMS TO BE ON TV AND NETFLIX. I ALMOST WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT CASE AGAIN. I FEEL THERE IS MORE THERE.

What’s your background and how did you personally get involved in all of this stuff?

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST AND TELL STORIES, THAT IS ALL I CARE ABOUT IS TELLING GREAT STORIES, HOPEFULLY THAT HAVE AN IMPACT. I WANT TO TELL STORIES THAT ARE HIDDEN FOR THE MOST PART, OR ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO ACCESS. AT HEART I AM HAPPIEST WHEN I AM JUST WORKING ON GREAT NARRATIVES THAT I BELIEVE IN. ALL THE OTHER STUFF DOESN’T REALLY MATTER TO ME.

https://youtu.be/1rqSGSJMudg

Lets talk about the film you got coming out with Bryan Cranston?

I FOUND A BOOK CALLED THE INFILTRATOR WRITTEN BY A GUY NAMED ROBERT MAZUR. AT THE TIME MARK CUBAN HAD THE OPTION BUT IT LAPSED. I HAD TO TRACK BOB DOWN BECAUSE HE WAS IN HIDING. HE WAS A CUSTOMS AGENT WORKING IN TAMPA FLORIDA WHEN HE STARTED A LOW LEVEL MONEY LAUNDERING OPERATION. IT TAKES PLACE IN THE 80S AND AT THAT TIME THE COLOMBIANS NEEDED WAYS TO LAUNDER ALL THEIR DRUG MONEY. BOB WENT INTO A BANK CALLED BCCI. BCCI AT THE TIME WAS BASICALLY A CIA BACKED BANK THAT HAD PEOPLE LIKE OSAMA BIN LADEN, SADDAM HUSSEIN AND MANY OTHER DICTATORS KEPT ACCOUNTS THEIR. WILLIAM CASEY THE FORMER CIA HEAD WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE BANK WAS ALSO CONTROLLED BY THE PAKASTANI ISI. BOB WENT UNDERCOVER AS AN ITALIAN MONEY LAUNDERER NAMED BOB MUSSELLA. HE WORKED HIS WAY UP THE LADDER OF PABLO ESCOBARS LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS, HE ULTIMATELY BUILT A CASE THAT SHUT DOWN BCCI THE FIRST TIME A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL BANK WAS PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. 100 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED. BRYAN CRANSTON PLAYS BOB MAZUR. JOHN LEGUZIAMO PLAYS HIS PARTNER. BENJAMIN BRATT, AMY RYAN, OLYMPIA DUKAKIS AND DIANE KRUGER ROUND OUT THE CAST. MY PARTNER AND DEAR FRIEND BRAD FURMAN DIRECTED THE FILM. I BROUGHT HIM THE IDEA AND IT TOOK US 4 YEARS TO GET THE FILM MADE. IT WILL COME OUT AUGUST 31, 2016 IN 3000 SCREENS. WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. I PRODUCED THE FILM. THE BUDGET WAS 25 MILLION.

What else do you have planned for the future?

I AM ALWAYS DEVELOPING 10 OR 15 PROJECTS AT A TIME. MY NEXT FILM IS CALLED EXTORTION 17. IT IS ABOUT S HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN THAT KILLED 30 SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS. ONE OF THE GUYS ON BOARD WAS A CRYPTOLOGIST FOR THE NSA. HIS FATHER CHARLIE STRANGE IS TRYING TO FIND THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS SON. I AM GOING TO TELL A FATHER/SON STORY IN REGARDS TO THIS INVESTIGATION OF WHAT HAPPENED.  I AM ALSO TRYING TO GROW G2G NEWS AND FIND OTHER STORIES TO PURSUE FOR THE WEBSITE. I AM ALWAYS ON THE HUNT EVERYDAY FOR NEW MATERIAL.

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