Rapper Ca$h Out was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, July 21, after being convicted in a rape and racketeering case in Georgia, attorneys said. The Atlanta-based rapper, whose legal name is John-Michael Gibson, was found guilty July 18, of charges including rape, aggravated sodomy and violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for leading a prostitution enterprise, a spokesperson for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office told USA TODAY. Gibson was also convicted of two counts of trafficking a person, pimping, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, battery, possession of a firearm during commission of felony and other crimes, Fulton County media relations director Pallavi Bailey said. He was found not guilty of felony aggravated assault, Gibson's defense Attorney Careton R. Matthews said. During the trial, Matthews told USA TODAY he argued the state failed to prove its case, called some of the charges against him "overblown," and said testimony from the accusers showed they "voluntarily reconnected with Gibson and contradicted themselves repeatedly." Gibson, who rose to fame more than a decade ago with hits including"Cashin' Out"and"She Twerkin," had been on trial since June 2 before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge. Gibson's mother, Linda Smith, and his friend, Tyrone Taylor, were also convicted in connection to the case in which prosecutors told a 12-person jury they ran a business and lured victims into prostitution. 'A little bit naive':Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play Before sentencing, the judge said evidence at trial had "shown the very worst of human behavior toward other human beings," local media outletWXIA-TVreported. The judge said the verdict reflected prosecutors had "proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the diabolical conduct of the defendants occurred, and her sentence would be responsive to that." The judge sentenced Gibson to life and an additional 70 years in connection to the case. Smith was sentenced to 30 years for her crimes, and Taylor received the same sentence as Gibson, Matthews confirmed. "We do respect the court's process and jury's decision, however we're disappointed with the verdict and the sentence," Matthews said Monday afternoon. "He maintains his innocence on many of these charges and may file an appeal or a motion for a new trial." Murder retrial?Man convicted in infamous 1979 Etan Patz slaying could get new trial Ca$h Out, is 34, and was born in Columbus, Georgia. He signed with Epic Records to release his 2011 single "Cashin' Out", which peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. In August 2014, Gibson released the album, "Let's Get It," supported by the single hit, "She Twerkin." Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ca$h Out get life sentence in rape, prostitution ring case
