Irv Gotti Faces Federal Charges

The Associated Press reports The Inc.’s Irv Gotti surrendered yesterday to federal authorities to face money-laundering charges. Prosecutors said he had aided a friend and convicted drug kingpin in concealing more than $1 million in illicit narcotics proceeds. Four people associated with The Inc. were charged with money laundering in the indictment that was unsealed yesterday: Gotti, whose given name is Irving Lorenzo; his brother Christopher Lorenzo, who also refers to himself as Gotti; Ronald Robinson, a manager for Ja Rule; and Cynthia Brent, a bookkeeper at the label. The Lorenzo brothers were arraigned yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn. They pleaded not guilty and were released on $1 million bonds, after putting up their parents’ house in Bronxville as security for the bonds. Irv Gotti has repeatedly denied accepting drug money to run his label.