GANGSTER Keefe D believes he should be allowed out of jail so he can cash in on his links to Tupac Shakur before standing trial for the rap icon’s murder because he’s “innocent until proven guilty.”
Keefe should even be allowed to work film and TV deals about his knowledge in Tupac’s 1996 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing – even though he has pleaded not guilty to his murder, his lawyer astonishingly declared.
Keefe is accused of murdering rapper Tupac Shakur back in 1996Credit: Getty
The former gangster says he is not guilty and lied about his involvement in the crimeCredit: Getty
His lawyer Carl Arnold, pictured, says he should be allowed to make money from his links to the rapperCredit: The US Sun – Commissioned by The US Sun Digital edition
The murder suspect and his lawyer are adamant he should never have been denied bail over concerns he would earn money from talking about his gangster life and concerns about the “source” of the bond cash.
The ex-drug dealing LA Crip enforcer has been trying to make a movie or TV series about his gang life and connections to Pac, Biggie Smalls, Diddy and Suge Knight for several years.
In an exclusive interview with The U.S Sun, Keefe’s lawyer Carl Arnold insists judge Carli Kierny incorrectly referenced a Nevada’s Son of Sam or Slayer Statute, which prevents 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ers from profiting from writings or shows about their crimes.
Arnold has filed a new motion asking for Kierny to change her verdict, because Keefe, real name Duane Davis, is being unfairly treated.
The veteran lawyer hit back saying Keefe – sometimes spelt Keffe – has every right to make cash from his reputation and Kierny “doesn’t have the authority to deny Keefe selling his rights.”
Keefe believes that using his notoriety, before his November trial, will help raise money for his family and to pay legal costs.
“He is presumed innocent until proven to be guilty and not prevented from deriving any benefit from his life story.”
Carl Arnold, Keefe D’s Lawyer
Judge Kierny rejected his $112,500 bail bond, which had been put up by music manager Cash “Wack 100” Jones’, over concerns the pair had been discussing earning millions from Keefe’s life story.
A Nevada law prohibits convicted 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ers from profiting from their crime, but Arnold hit back hard.
Arnold said: “She’s legally incorrect and she doesn’t have the authority to deny Keefe selling his rights, even though he didn’t sell them to Cash Jones – nor is there any proof of that.
“At the first bail hearing, when I wasn’t there, It should have been checked when the judge or the prosecutor said, ‘he shouldn’t be allowed to make any profit off of this case and use that to come up with bail monies or anything like that.’ That’s completely against the law.
“He is presumed innocent until proven to be guilty and not prevented from deriving any benefit from his life story.”
Arnold is confident Keefe will be released on an ankle tag before the end of the month.
He said: “I don’t think the judge has a choice. We outlined and provided her everything that she was concerned about, and now the only thing she can hang her hat on is her misinformed interpretation of the law.”
Arnold feels there are clear similarities with recent client Baltimore boxing trainer Calvin Ford, best known as the trainer for world lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Arnold points to Tank being allowed to earn cash, while on two charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
“He was allowed to have a fight, make money, go about his whole entire life while he was out on bail,” he said.
“Nobody put restrictions on his ability to make money. He wasn’t found guilty of anything. And so for some reason, everyone left that foundational premise innocent until found guilty.
“I’m not pulling the race card here. I’m pulling the economic card. And bottom line, he don’t have the assets. So what are we going to do? We’re going to make him stay in custody and tell him he can’t earn a living?”
“And that’s a big mistake because now you’re saying, well, Keefe couldn’t profit. Well, he profited.
“We know for sure by writing a book, by doing videos, and he made money. Then if the estate of Mr. Shakur wanted any of those monies, all they had to do is go in a civil court and ask for those.
“Now why is the judge and the DA on this misinformed notion that he can’t make money until he is proven guilty? If he’s ever proven guilty?”
Arnold insists that Kierny has handed Jones’ full bank paperwork showing his bail bond came from legitimate income streams.
The attorney noted Keefe will not try to flee and is “no threat” to the community once released on house arrest with ankle monitoring.
He is concerned at prosecutors’ efforts to keep Keefe at the Clark County Detention Center, because he “deserves” to be able to earn money.
Arnold said: “Here’s the thing is if this was anybody else with assets, this would even have been a discussion. And it is what they do.
“I’m not pulling the race card here. I’m pulling the economic card. And bottom line, he don’t have the assets. So what are we going to do?
“We’re going to make him stay in custody and tell him he can’t earn a living?
“He is one of the few that can actually earn a living while being in custody.
“He could provide for his family, but he’s facing life sentence and you’re going to tell me he can’t provide for them. Why? He hasn’t been found guilty yet. That’s what I’m saying. They’ll always stomp on the guy that doesn’t have number one, a voice and number two, the assets.
“Luckily Keefe has someone – me – that has a voice.”
Tupac was fatally shot as he rode with Suge Knight near the Las Vegas ᵴtriƥCredit: Getty
Keefe’s lawyer is confident his client will be found not guiltyCredit: The US Sun – Commissioned by The US Sun Digital edition
Davis has pleaded not guilty to the 1996 murder of Tupac in Las Vegas.
He faces life imprisonment should a jury find him responsible.
Arnold has stated to The U.S Sun that Keefe has spent years lying about his role as the “shot caller” in rapper Tupac’s 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing for “fame and money.”
He added that prosecutors only have “circumstantial evidence” and no proof his client was even in Sin City on the night of Pac’s murder, September 7, 1996.
On June 27, Kierny listened to an hour of arguments and reviewed financial records from Jones.
She ruled that Jones: “testified he was bonding out Mr. Davis because Mr. Davis was fighting cancer and had been a pillar of the community, [however] his previous interviews with [YouTuber] VladTV suggested another motive.”
She also stated records that were provided to the court were “insufficient” to show the funding came from a legitimate source, records showed withdrawals from Jones’ account from December 2023 to May 2024, and they don’t show “many of the larger deposits to these accounts, only that they were made via wire transfer.”
The Eighth District Court ordered a Bail Reconsideration hearing set for July 23.
