Overview
The podcast features a wide-ranging interview with prominent criminal defense lawyer Drew Findling, discussing his legal philosophy, high-profile music industry cases, strategies in major RICO and federal criminal cases, and systemic issues in the justice system, particularly regarding hip-hop artists.
Drew Findling’s Legal Philosophy & Career
- Emphasizes the importance of trial skills, persuading juries, and not seeking fame through clients.
- Advocates relating to celebrity clients as people, not stars, avoiding the lifestyle and focusing on legal excellence.
- Supports public defenders and views criminal defense as a mission, not influenced by the nature or notoriety of the charge.
- Turns down cases when the client wants to dictate defense strategy or when there are conflicts of interest.
- Does not offer contingency or IOU arrangements, and sets fees based on case complexity after thorough review.
Major Case Highlights
- Helped secure favorable outcomes for high-profile clients like Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Rodman, Gucci Mane, Offset, Migos, Waka Flocka, DaBaby, Cardi B, YoungBoy Never Broke Again (NBA YoungBoy), and Lil Durk.
- NBA YoungBoy's case involved complex federal charges; Findling negotiated a unique plea, emphasizing team collaboration and early defense planning.
- Represented both sides of disputes in hip-hop (e.g., YoungBoy and Lil Durk) without taking personal sides, focusing solely on legal defense.
Federal & RICO Case Strategies
- RICO charges make prosecution easier by targeting patterns, often using flimsy “overt acts” such as social media posts or being present in certain neighborhoods.
- Early involvement in cases is crucial to challenge the prosecution's narrative and file strategic motions.
- Critiques the use of song lyrics, fan edits, and artistic expression as incriminating evidence, highlighting inherent bias against hip-hop artists.
- Notes that heavy resource cases like RICO often waste public funds and overcrowd jails without consistent results.
Lil Durk Case Details
- Durk added to a superseding indictment with the only new fact being a song allegedly glorifying a crime, which defense argues is factually incorrect.
- Defense identified the government relied on fan edits and misunderstood music production timelines.
- Motion to dismiss based on inaccurate grand jury information, with a court hearing scheduled for June 2.
- Emphasizes importance of examining full case discovery and challenging weak, inferential evidence (e.g., lyrics as proof of crime).
Legal Fees & Practice Operation
- Charges flat fees for most clients, hourly for corporate-like clients, with hourly rates over $2,000.
- No breaks or discounts for publicity; firm’s reputation built on legal quality, not celebrity association.
- Larger law firm with multiple high-performing attorneys, able to handle numerous complex cases in parallel.
Systemic Issues in Justice & Hip-Hop
- Notes disproportionate targeting and prejudice against hip-hop artists in criminal prosecutions.
- Calls for reform in focusing on serious cases and ending mass RICO prosecutions that drain resources and harm communities.
- Advocates for proper representation of economically disadvantaged defendants; ongoing involvement in public defense improvement.
Action Items
- June 2 – Drew Findling: Argue motion to dismiss and/or unseal grand jury minutes in Lil Durk’s case.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Awaiting further federal case discovery in the Lil Durk prosecution to determine extent of additional evidence.
- Monitoring possible additional superseding indictments or developments in ongoing music industry RICO cases.