A Philadelphia judge’s decision to send Meek Mill to prison over probation violations may have been personal, at least according to the rapper’s attorney.
Joe Tacopina, who represents Meek, real name Robert Rihmeek Williams, told TMZ that he believes the judge’s harsh ruling stems from a long-standing vendetta.
Judge Genece Brinkley and Meek, he says, are supposedly from the same neighborhood and know some of the same people. Last year during a meeting in her chambers, Tacopina claims Brinkley suggested that Meek do a remake of Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee” and give her a shout out on the song.
–Meek Mill sentenced to 2-4 years in state prison–
Meek, he says, took the judge’s request as a joke and laughed it off, however, Judge Brinkley allegedly said “I’m not kidding.” But when Meek declined, she replied, “Okay, suit yourself.”
Despite that the fact that a prosecutor and Meek’s defense team recommended that Meek not be imprisoned over his probation violations–arguing that he has been clean and has grown as a person since his original crime–Brinkley handed down her tough ruling.
The judge said that the prosecutor was too new to the case to understand how Mill just “does what he wants.”
“I’ve been trying to help you since 2009,” Brinkley told Meek during her court ruling. “You basically thumbed your nose at me.”
Meek’s attorney believes that the judge showed clear bias and says they plan to appeal.