Hip-Hop mogul and fugitive James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond, recently linked by an inmate to the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur outside a Manhattan recording studio and to the murder of a 50 Cent Affiliate, has been arrested on cocaine-dealing charges following a month-long manhunt.
Federal authorities said Tuesday that Drug Enforcement Administration agents had arrested Rosemond, owner of Czar Entertainment, in New York City outside the W Hotel in Union Square, where he was hiding in plain sight.
According to the New York Daily News, Rosemond tried to flee the hotel this morning, but was tackled by marshals and chipped a tooth when he fell. At press time, he was due in Brooklyn Federal Court.
In addition to the drug charges, Rosemond is accused of witness tampering and obstruction of justice, authorities said.
Last week, convicted killer Dexter Isaac claimed Rosemond ignited the East Coast-West Coast rap wars that left rappers Shakur and Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace shot to death.
According to Isaac, Rosemond paid him $2,500 to shoot and rob Shakur at a Times Square recording studio in November 1994. The fallout led to Shakur’s slaying in Las Vegas, and Wallace’s murder in Los Angeles.
Rosemond has denied the allegation, and charged that Isaac – currently serving a life sentence – was a federal informant. Rosemond’s lawyer has denied his client had any involvement in the shooting.