Hip-Hop Artist Lil' Tone Arrested in Las Vegas Print
Written by Robert ID2895   
Sunday, 30 July 2006 04:30

Arrested Thursday morning (July 20) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on three different felony charges, Las Vegas hip-hop artist rapper, Lil'' Tone, aka Tony Richardson, remains held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with bail set at $40,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 3.

The 18-year-old hip-hop artist (real name: Tony Richardson) was taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. early Thursday while at home and charged with two counts each of robbery, burglary and use of a deadly weapon (which has since been dropped).

The hip-hop artists label, Las Vegas-based Runnin'' Madd Records, insists that the arrest is nothing but harassment by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), citing discrimination as the culprit, and even stated that Lil'' Tone was working the night in question.

“I treat Lil'' Tone like a little brother. I do everything I can to keep him out off the streets and in the studio,” said Jayiisa, Runnin Madd CEO.

According to the label, the police have begun to discriminate against local hip-hop and rap artists after one of their own fell victim to a unrelated shooting. In a press release, Runnin'' Madd Records accuses the LVPD of “operating under martial law” and “operating much like a gang to shut down any rapper in their path.“

The LVMPD was not available for comment at press time.