Under the Spotlight
- Rap icon Fat Joe sues ex-hypeman Terrance “T.A.” Dixon for publicly accusing him of pedophilia and sex trafficking.
• Joe’s legal team claims the accusations are part of an extortion scheme backed by controversial attorney Tyrone Blackburn.
• Legal experts warn Dixon may have severely undermined his own credibility by publishing outrageous and unverified claims.
By Samuel A. Lopez – USA Herald
Grammy-nominated rapper and Bronx legend Fat Joe is going to war—not in the studio, but in court. The hip-hop heavyweight, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, filed a scathing defamation lawsuit this week against his former hypeman Terrance “T.A.” Dixon and Dixon’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, alleging a coordinated smear campaign rooted in lies, extortion, and reputational sabotage.
According to court documents obtained by USA Herald, Dixon launched “a torrent of wholly fabricated, grotesque, and scandalous allegations” against Cartagena in a string of social media posts and legal threats earlier this year. Among the most damaging claims: Dixon publicly accused Joe of “unspeakable acts such as pedophilia, statutory rape, and sexual assault.”
Fat Joe released his own statement condemning the allegations: “These allegations are completely false and part of a criminal conspiracy orchestrated between a disgruntled former hypeman and his attorney. These two individuals have been scheming together to extort me with their elaborate and ludicrous demands changing by the day. The relentless threats, harassment, and defamation I’ve endured as they peddle salacious lies are utterly deplorable. I’m taking legal action to expose their misconduct and I’m fully confident the facts will reveal this is nothing more than a deceptive and desperate scam.”
Fat Joe’s legal team, led by powerhouse attorney Joe Tacopina, says these explosive allegations are completely false and amount to a criminal conspiracy designed to extort money and destroy Joe’s legacy.
“The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are completely false and part of a criminal extortion scheme orchestrated by an attorney who a federal judge recently condemned for abusing the court system to harass and pressure defendants,” said Tacopina.
