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New York City - Imam Chaplain Arranged Preferential Treatment In Prison For Black Female Rapper |
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City prison officials acted like an entourage of fawning valets for a female rapper when she was locked up on Rikers Island, hanging out in her cell, bringing meals and makeup, giving her unlimited TV and phone use, and toting her bags when she was released last April.
The female rapper, who did nine months for a parole violation after she punched and kicked two nail-salon manicurists in 2006, wore Gucci sneakers and a Fendi scarf -- and when they got dirty, new ones were brought to her.
The diva's jailers also set up an interview and photo shoot with a magazine, which ran a feature on the raunchy rapper that helped hype her new album.
So say outraged Department of Correction insiders, who told The Post that the female rapper's coddling was yet another example of an unruly agency flouting its own regulations and security for the privileged few.
"It's just out of control," one official said.
Said another, "There's a total lack of leadership at the top."
Correction chief Peter Curcio and the prison's top rabbi, Leib Glanz, resigned last week after The Post exposed a lavish bar mitzvah that Glanz arranged for an inmate's son at a lower-Manhattan lockup, along with other perks showered on select prisoners.
The city Department of Investigation and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office are probing Glanz and his boss, Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil, in the matter.
Abdul-Jalil played a key role in Brown's star treatment, the sources said, going to bat for the hip-hop hottie when she wanted something special.
"Umar would call the warden, and the warden at the time would comply," one insider said.
Two other ministers who report to Abdul-Jalil -- the Rev. Kevin Green and Imam Aisha Muhammad -- helped arrange Brown's good-time treatment, despite the rapper's bad behavior as an inmate at Rikers' Rose M. Singer Center, the insiders said. Brown is Christian.
"They were in her cell day and night," one department supervisor said. "Whatever she wanted, Sister Aisha would talk to warden [Michelle] Mack and get it."
Mack, for her part, was "star-struck," a source said.
Mack and Muhammad allowed Brown to place a bedsheet across her prison bars as a privacy curtain, and let her stroll around by herself in a housing unit for high-profile prisoners, sources said.
Only one of the handful of inmates there is allowed out at a time, so the female rapper solo jaunts meant others had to wait.
"Everyone else in that area sat in their cell longer than they should have because that chick had carte blanche," said a source at the facility.
The photo shoot involved hip-hop magazine XXL, which sent seven people including a photographer and a makeup artist, to the jail to chat with and snap pictures of the star. The Brooklyn-born female rapper wanted to promote her album, "Black Roses," and a reality-TV show.
The sit-down, just 10 days before her release in April 2008, was approved by the department's media-services office.
Jails spokesman Stephen Morello said Brown got no favors.
"We're required to allow inmates access to the media," he said. "This is exactly how we do each and every one of these. She may have been promotionally motivated, but it's absolutely wrong to suggest we were partners in this."
He said neither prisoners nor staff made complaints against Brown or her treatment.
But the female rapper was not a model prisoner.
She was ordered into isolation for 76 days for brawling with an inmate. She also failed to take a drug test and verbally abused a captain who ordered her to remove photos of herself in her cell.
Her stint in solitary was cut short -- she was let out after 40 days.
It was hardly solitary, according to jailhouse sources, who said Brown had a constant companion in Muhammad.
The imam "practically lived down there," an officer said. "It was a spectacle."
Asked about the claims of special treatment, Muhammad said, "I won't be able to answer any questions like that. I'm so sorry. Have a blessed day."
Even the female rapper's release was unusual and spurred much criticism by jail officials.
The rapper, who was whisked away in a luxury SUV, got a warm send-off from Carolyn Thomas, the correction chief of department. "She was waving to her," an astonished jail official said. "I've never seen that before in my entire life."
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM Anonymous Says:
Alla huakbar
2
Jun 21, 2009 at 11:03 AM Anonymous Says:
But we need the Imam, he's a real good man.............
3
Jun 21, 2009 at 10:59 AM Anonymous Says:
Even with all this stories bloomberg is fighting for him, but when its a rabbi we push for his ouster.
Tipical (bloomberg) a park avenue jew, when by the crown hights riots they where in defence of dinkins against the jews.
4
Jun 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM Anonymous Says:
They are acting like little children telling stories about who did what for whom. Glanz is gone; he has resigned; he was a vonderful rebbe and helped many yiddeshe inmates but his judgement was bad in this matter and he should have resigned before he was fired by Bloomberg. Now lets move on and not keep focusing on this story that makes it more difficult for other yidden.
5
Jun 21, 2009 at 11:24 AM motoh 5 Says:
“ They are acting like little children telling stories about who did what for whom. Glanz is gone; he has resigned; he was a vonderful rebbe and helped many yiddeshe inmates but his judgement was bad in this matter and he should have resigned before he was fired by Bloomberg. Now lets move on and not keep focusing on this story that makes it more difficult for other yidden. ”
Sir, this is not VIN focusing on this story. This is the highly respected, nothing to report about, New York Post that can't seem to get this story out of their system. VIN is kind enough to bring it to you, but your problem shouldn't be with the heimishe bringing this up again and again. The Post writes about this as if some high profile murder took place. DUMB!!
6
Jun 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM Gefilte Fish Says:
Bring it on, bring it oown baby!
7
Jun 21, 2009 at 12:37 PM Milhouse Says:
“ They are acting like little children telling stories about who did what for whom. Glanz is gone; he has resigned; he was a vonderful rebbe and helped many yiddeshe inmates but his judgement was bad in this matter and he should have resigned before he was fired by Bloomberg. Now lets move on and not keep focusing on this story that makes it more difficult for other yidden. ”
What is wrong with your 'W' key?
8
Jun 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM Anonymous Says:
“ They are acting like little children telling stories about who did what for whom. Glanz is gone; he has resigned; he was a vonderful rebbe and helped many yiddeshe inmates but his judgement was bad in this matter and he should have resigned before he was fired by Bloomberg. Now lets move on and not keep focusing on this story that makes it more difficult for other yidden. ”
Up until now I was also with the opinion that Rabbi Glantz used misjudgment. After reading the other stories, I came to the conclusion he has done no less then what was going on all along with other inmates. Just as it was quiet and no one knew about the bar-mitzve and other stuff for months, the same would remain always.
I can't think other then there was a whistle blower who wanted to see the demise of the rabbi, and exposed the story to the NY Post that ruined everything.
As for the Iman, he'll probably keep on doing what he was doing before and "His Majesty", Mayor Bloomberg will defend him whatever he'll do.
9
Jun 21, 2009 at 02:19 PM thinker Says:
its unbelievable how this imam gets away with it while the yid has to go. just comes to show that we are in golus and even in america nothing has changed. when ever there is even the slightest opportunity to makes us tzorus they will use it up with the greatest enjoyment. "ein luni al mi lehishuein elu al avinu shebashumayim"
10
Jun 21, 2009 at 04:14 PM Anonymous Says:
“ They are acting like little children telling stories about who did what for whom. Glanz is gone; he has resigned; he was a vonderful rebbe and helped many yiddeshe inmates but his judgement was bad in this matter and he should have resigned before he was fired by Bloomberg. Now lets move on and not keep focusing on this story that makes it more difficult for other yidden. ”
Idiot!!! it"s difficult already. It can't be worse. Are your one of those that wanted Rabbi Glantz out? It looks like it from the way you get sickened when it's talked about. Try out being in jail for just a day.
11
Jun 21, 2009 at 08:31 PM Anonymous Says:
i guess you guys dont know what we are going to be missing, rabbi glantz was a person that is irreplaceble, and yes it was no misjudgement the barmitzva , i wish him the best, and he out of all pple. no was prison is all about, all of yous that have a problem with the barmitzva should try prison for an hour.