After being found guilty on 21 counts, including murder and drug trafficking, close to one year ago, former rapper, Ronald “Ra Diggs” Herron received his sentencing from a Brooklyn federal court judge this week.
The New York Times reports that the judge in the case, Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, sentenced Herron to 12 life terms plus 105 years. During sentencing, the publication reports that Herron, who was reportedly a member of a Bloods gang called Murderous Mad Dawgs, delivered a straight-forward message to prosecutors.
“You guys sit here and continue to paint this picture that I’m the devil incarnate, the scourge of righteousness — it’s all crap,” Herron said. “Even the most dim prosecutor could have secured a conviction under this atmosphere of guilt they built. They did all but point a big, red arrow of guilty up on that projection screen.”
In statements contrary to that of Herron’s, Judge Garaufis spoke on his “complete lack of remorse” and “the misery” he inflicted on others.
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“You have shown a complete lack of remorse for your abhorrent conduct,” the judge said. “Even today, in this courtroom, you give answers that show you are clueless about the misery you have inflicted on other people and you are reconstructing through some fantastic thoughts what has happened in this case.”
Herron was recently one of a handful of artists to be mentioned in Noisey’s “Why Are Rap Lyrics Being Used As Evidence In Court” feature story.
“Without passing judgment on the truth of these statements or depictions, the court finds the content of the rap-related videos to be generally relevant in this case where the Government must prove the existence and structure of an alleged criminal enterprise and a pattern of criminal activity committed in furtherance of that enterprise,” Judge Garaufis said in regards to the use of Herron’s music as evidence in his case, according to Noisey.
