Ar-Ab Charged With Running Drug-Trafficking Organization

Philadelphia rapper Ar-Ab appears to be in a whole world of trouble. The Cash Money artist has been charged, along with eight other people, with heading a drug-trafficking organization in North Philadelphia.

An indictment for the case accuses Ab, born Abdul West, of heading a local gang that routinely distributed drugs in the area. West is charged with selling cocaine (five kilograms), crack (280 grams or more), methamphetamine (50 grams or more) and heroin (over 100 grams), reveals a press release from the United States Attorney's Office posted on Thursday (Oct. 18).

His co-defendants on the case are Jamaal Blanding, Jameel Hickson, Richard Chase Hoover, Dontez Stewart, Amir Boyer, Daryl Baker, Hans Gadson and Dennis Harmon. Additional individual charges include possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, crack, and heroin, distribution of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Authorities appear to have been tracking Ab's movements for a while. The U.S. Government claims the group operated near North Sydenham Street in Philadelphia from March 2017 through June 2018 and were bringing in product from California. The Philadelphia Police Department executed two different search warrants on Sept. 11, 2017 and May 17, 2018, on apartments owned by West that both recovered a substantial amount of drugs and cash.

If found guilty, the group will be facing lengthy prison sentences. “The charges alleged in the superseding indictment are extremely serious, and if convicted, these defendants are facing major jail time,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking organizations remains a high priority of this Office and the Department of Justice. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our streets safe and stop the flow of these deadly drugs into our communities.”

Ar-Ab first made mainstream news as a frenemy and former artist under Cassidy and was connected to Cass' 2005 involuntary manslaughter case. He later made headlines for beefing with Meek Mill, though those issues were later squashed. He landed a deal with Cash Money Records in 2016 but has yet to put out an album on the label.

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