Rapper Bobby Shmurda pleads not guilty to gun, drug charges

MIDTOWN (WABC) -- An up-and-coming rapper who performs under the name of Bobby Shmurda pleaded not guilty to gun and drug charges laid against him as an arraignment was unsealed in court Thursday. He is also facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and assault.

A judge ordered him held on $2 million bail.

The rapper, whose real name is Ackquille Pollard, was taken into custody along with 11 others shortly after he left a recording studio near Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday. Police say Shmurda was in a car out front with an automatic weapon in a duffle bag. They also apparently seized a cache of weapons during the bust.

The arrest stems from an investigation into a series of gang-related shootings and drug trafficking in the city. Authorities announced the indictments, saying the suspects are members of the GS9 gang based in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Several also perform as a rap group under the name GS9, officials said.

"This gang, the G-Stone Crips, or GS9 as they call themselves, have gloated about murder, shooting and drug dealing in YouTube videos and viral dance moves," said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Prosecutors say Shmurda is the "driving force behind the GS9 gang." And in June of this year, he was so humiliated, that he recklessly fired shots over his brother's head, into a Brooklyn barber shop.

Prosecutors laid out a 22-month investigation, describing retaliatory shootings with a rival gang, where two innocent victims got caught in the crossfire.

Two other alleged gang members face the most serious charges--second degree murder in the shooting of a 19-year-old alleged rival gang member at a Brooklyn bodega.

"This crew will no longer terrorize their neighborhoods in Flatbush or Canarsie Brooklyn," Bratton added. "Make no mistake criminal crews like this do terrorize. They sell fear and disorder."

The Brooklyn-born Shmurda is best known for the hit song "Hot Boy," which he performed on Jimmy Kimmel recently. The song has controversial lyrics like "With M16s, we gon' put some shots on 'em." Pollard's music video also popularized a dance move called the "Shmoney dance.

Shmurda is riding high with his hit record, and he recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. But now, his legal drama has taken center stage.

His lawyer had harsh words over the charges, saying he would not let prosecutors crucify his client.

"There is nowhere in the western world where he can go without being recognized," defense attorney Howard Greenburg said. "And you're telling me he has to take time out of his busy life as an entertainer and do what is alleged in this indictment? It's a bunch of BS, and you can quote me."

Leslie Pollard also stands by her son.

"My son didn't do anything," she said. "They're making allegations... associations with other people."

Shmurda and his brother Javase Pollard are among the suspects who were arrested by the Special Narcotics Gang Unit at the Quad Recording Studio just after 2 a.m. Wednesday. The 100-count indictment includes gang activity, multiple shootings and drug trafficking.

Shmurda was supposed to perform Wednesday in a "secret spot," in the city, according to his Twitter.

Chad Marshall, another aspiring hip-hop artist known as Rowdy Rebel, was arrested inside the recording studio, where police reportedly recovered as many as 20 handguns, authorities said.

The "Hot Boy" music video posted on YouTube in August has been viewed tens of millions of times.

"My music is straight facts," Pollard recently told New York Magazine. "There are a lot of gangsters in my hood."

Shmurda's criminal history includes two arrests for gun and drug possession, authorities said.

As charged in the indictment, members of GS9 engaged in violent disputes with rival gangs, committed murder and carried out numerous non-fatal shootings. GS9 members are also charged in multiple instances of gunfire in public locations in which no one was shot in both New York City and Miami. The twelve indicted defendants are charged with narcotics trafficking and using the proceeds to further the criminal activities of the gang.