Co-Founder Of Roc-A-Fella Kareem "Bigg" Burke Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking

A former Jay-Z business partner who invested in Roc-A-Fella Records
pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in a massive marijuana
trafficking ring, federal prosecutors said. Kareem (Biggs) Burke, 38,
faces five to six years in prison during his sentencing May 18 for
conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilos of marijuana, said
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Under the plea deal, Burke
agreed to forfeit cash, his house and a BMW, Bharara said. (New York
Daily News)
While not scheduled for sentencing until May, Biggs could end up doing
40 years in the slammer.

Burke pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute,
and to possess with intent to distribute, more than 100 kilograms of
marijuana, in connection with his participation in a massive pot
trafficking ring. As a result of the plea, he faces a mandatory
minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is
sentenced May 18. (North Jersey)
Biggs and over 40 other individuals were arrested in October 2010 on
the drug trafficking charges.

Kareem Burke, also known as Biggs, was arrested at his home in Bergen,
New Jersey, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers said. Another
44 people have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking, while
five remain at large, prosecutors said in a statement. Among the 45
arrested was Matthew Stang, a writer and advertising representative
for High Times, a New York-based marijuana advocacy magazine. All 50
people charged face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Initial reports claimed the investigation had been in effect for
nearly two years.

Jim Hayes, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New
York, said Friday that the arrests are the result of an 18-month
investigation. He says agents seized $1 million and almost 200 pounds
of marijuana. Authorities say the marijuana was grown in Florida and
smuggled to New York. It wasn't immediately clear as to what role
Burke played in the operation. Along with Jay-Z and Damon Dash, he
founded Roc-A-Fella in the 1990's.