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Atlanta rapper Cash Out, born John Michael Gibson, has been convicted on the majority of charges in his state sex trafficking trial, including some of the most serious offenses.
According to Atlanta News First, a Fulton County jury delivered the verdict on Friday (July 18), finding Gibson guilty of racketeering, rape, pimping, aggravated sodomy, and two counts of sex trafficking. He was acquitted on a third sex trafficking charge, as well as charges of sexual servitude, aggravated assault, and operating a place of prostitution.
Cash Out’s mother, Linda Smith, who was also a defendant in the case, was found guilty of racketeering and one count of sex trafficking. A third co-defendant, Tyrone Taylor, was convicted on all charges against him, except for one count of pimping.
Prosecutors alleged that the three used their record label as a front to recruit and exploit women for prostitution. One victim testified that she was only allowed to eat if she performed sex acts for money.
During the trial, Cash Out was also accused of attempting to intimidate a witness with the help of his mother. The woman was allegedly pressured not to cooperate with authorities.
Jurors were shown a 2021 video of Smith being interrogated following her arrest at a physical therapy clinic. In the footage, she denied any involvement, claiming she was there to find a friend who had missed a probation appointment. Prosecutors also played jailhouse phone calls in which Cash Out appeared to instruct Smith to track down the witness.
“I mean, y’all acting like I done kidnapped her,” Smith reportedly said during questioning.
Sentencing for Cash Out is scheduled for Monday, July 21.
