Hip Hop icon, and creator of the term “thug life,” Tupac Shakur, once confessed that although occasionally sprinkling his rhymes with mentions of felonious activities, he never actually had a record until he made a record.

So too appears to be the case with the arguable Tupac of 2007/2008, Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Records recording artist, and promoter of his own criminal exploits, Plies. HipHopDX has obtained documentation from the state of Florida that lists the “definition of real” rapper’s first real run-in with the law to have not taken place until two years ago, on April 12, 2006, when Plies - real name Algernod Lanier Washington, born May 22, 1976 - would have been on the eve of his 30^th birthday and just beginning his ascension to his current status of gold-certified rap star.

The email printout of the documentation, which appears at the end of this report, was obtained from the Florida Department Of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by paying the $24 fee and searching here [https://www2.fdle.state.fl.us/cchinet/] in the FDLE’s criminal history database for Algernod Washington.

The FDLE’s criminal record for Plies shows that the self-described “goon affiliated, ex drug dealer” who’s “resume solid, street cred bigger” has been arrested just twice within his home state of Florida during his adult life, with both arrests taking place two years ago.

The 32-year-old was arrested for the first time at the age of 29 on April 12, 2006 for the misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.

The latter of his two adult arrests came during a well-publicized shooting at a Gainesville, Florida nightclub after a Plies performance on July 2, 2006. According to reports, members of the rapper’s entourage, including his older brother, Ronell “Big Gates” Lavatte, pulled out guns and fired in the club after Plies, who’s performance was running long, became angry when his microphone was cut off so that Lil Boosie could begin to perform.  

Plies’ career guide/older brother, and another man, Troy Denard Carnegie, were both charged with attempted murder, each accused of firing at least three rounds in the club that night. According to reports, Big Gates has only one more year to serve on his sentence for his involvement in the shooting, but a Ronell Lavatte cannot be located in the Florida Department Of Corrections offender search here [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/InmateInfo/InmateInfoMenu.asp] to verify that claim. However, a search for Mr. Carnegie here [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=522963802] revealed that he is scheduled to be released from custody on June 20, 2010.

Unlike his brother and Mr. Carnegie, Plies was charged with just a misdemeanor count for possession of a concealed weapon after police found loaded firearms in the vehicle he and his entourage were riding in. He posted a $50,000 bond shortly thereafter and was released. Plies served no known jail time after later pleading no contest to the charge.

He has however subsequently been sued by five Gainesville residents who claim they were the victims of the shooting at the concert and are seeking $10 million in damages [click to read]. Plies’ attorney has publicly stated in response to the lawsuit that if they’re suing the rapper, they’re “suing the wrong person.” 

HipHopDX’s search of the FDLE’s database for Plies’ entire criminal history was pursued after learning that records existed in another criminal database available to the public, that of Lee County, Florida, home to Plies’ native Fort Myers, Florida, which showed that the rapper had been cited for a handful of traffic offenses but never had any criminal charges brought against him.

This record was obtained by searching here [http://www.leeclerk.org/Crim_defendant_Name_sel.asp], with results showing that Plies run-ins with the Fort Myers Police Department during his adult life appear to have been limited to five traffic stops (two in 1997, one in 1999, and two in 2002) and citations for unknowingly not having his driver’s license on him, having too dark of tint on his car windows, and playing his car stereo too loud.

These traffic offenses are not included in the FDLE’s report on all of Plies’ criminal history within the state of Florida because according to the FDLE website no results are returned for “a misdemeanor other than those required to be submitted to FDLE under Florida Statutes.”

DX also searched the public criminal records databases for Hillsborough County here [http://www.hillsclerk.com/publicweb/Search_Court_Records.aspx] (which houses Plies’ current known residence in Tampa, Florida), and Miami-Dade County here [http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/cjis/search4.asp] (which is home to his record label, Slip-N-Slide Records) prior to confirming all of Plies’ criminal activities within the state of Florida via the FDLE’s report. Both countywide searches yielded no records of criminal activity for an Algernod Washington. The Hillsborough County search revealed only a handful of civil filings against Plies, including  for unpaid rent. Continued on page 2 »