Rapper Lil Tjay-legal name Tione Merritt-was born in the Bronx and is at the center of rumors that have him linked to a federal indictment naming the Bronx-based “$laughtery Gang.” The indictment names 21 individuals who it says make up the gang, blaming those gang members for a spate of violent activities, including 14 shootings in the Fordham section of the Bronx between 2020 and 2024. There has been speculation that Lil Tjay may be involved; however, his lawyer has come out to deny the speculations, stating that no charges have actually been filed against the rapper.
Initial reports had incorrectly tied Lil Tjay to the indictment, but his lawyer has vehemently denied any involvement of the rapper with the activities of the gang. This mix-up came from very early media coverage of the case that briefly included the name and picture of Lil Tjay.
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The alleged crimes to be attributed to the Laughtery Gang include attempted murders in robbery, weapons possessions, assault, and conspiracy. Authorities believe the gang utilized social media as a tool to instill fear and to boast about the violence they posed. The indictment details various violent incidents consisting of shootings, each courthouse slashing, and carjackings.
Key evidence against them has come from their use of social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, to spread fear and boast of the violence. Members of the gang are said to have posted on YouTube videos performing Drill rap, boasting of shootings, and taunting murdered rivals. Such social media postings promote their violent agenda and escalate tensions between rival groups.
In totality, the $laughtery Gang has been connected with 14 different shootings that have left several people of the Bronx living in fear of their lives. This is the culmination of an 18-month-long effort by the law enforcement agencies in imposing the rule of law on “highly dangerous individuals”. The indictment is believed to be a super step toward finally dealing with the surge in gang violence affecting the community.
Although Lil Tjay was rumored to be associated with the federal case, his lawyer has persistently denied that the rapper was involved with the $laughtery Gang’s criminal activities. Media outlets reported earlier that Tjay had been indicted in the case, which was soon proven wrong. The lawyer subsequently said that Lil Tjay hadn’t been indicted for anything yet, blaming certain media for publishing unverified news.
That very brief mention of Tjay’s name and likeness in reports about the indictment truly stirred a lot of speculation and confusion among his fans and as a whole. His legal team has since clarified that the rapper still has nothing to do with the case, and they are working to iron out misunderstandings that were created by premature media reporting.
