The court heard that Chand was making around £16k a month
Footage now circling on social media shows the moment a would-be rapper shot a rival gang member in the neck during a daylight drive-by shooting.
Aspiring rapper Akeem Chand, also known as Brutz, was arrested following a spate of shootings across the Nottingham area during 2018 and early 2019.
The court heard that Chand, 27, flaunted his illegal earnings through lavish and elaborate music videos that aided in incriminating him and his fellow criminal friends.
Said music videos show the group bragging about their drug-funded wealth, shelling out enormous funds for expensive holidays in private villas, hiring luxury yachts and cladding themselves in designer clothes and jewellery.
Chand and fellow dealer Quarnell Simpson, 24, had set up an ambush for a rival on Brindley Road, Bilborough, Nottingham on May 9, 2019.
During the shooting caught on camera, a rival was shot in the neck as Chand fired multiple shots into his car as it travelled through the residential area. Footage on CCTV then showed Chang running along the road after getting out of a car driven by Simpson.
Akeem Chand flaunted his #drugs wealth in extravagant music videos. He's been jailed for life for a string of #shootings in #nottingham. The prosecution said Chand's crime group defended their turf with "the firepower of a small army". See our report here & on @bbcemt 1830 #bbc1 pic.twitter.com/EQjYH3ghlc
— Jeremy Ball (@jeremyball3) October 25, 2021
The .44 calibre revolver was fired in close proximity to the victim, who then attempted to drive away. Chand discharges two more shots, though this time in the general direction of his target.
Footage of the attack was captured on the victim’s dash-cam, which was then given to the police.
Upon further investigation, police officials discovered that Chang and his friends were distributors of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin across the wider county.
Their music videos aided police officials in identifying key locations and members, which were then confirmed by aerial drone footage and bugs placed in the group’s cars.
Following a 15 week trial in September, Chand and six others were convicted of drug and weapons charges.
Among the long list of offences, the group were found guilty of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate.
On October 25, Chand was jailed for life and will serve a minimum of 20 years.
“As this footage makes clear, these men were extremely dangerous,” said Detective Chief Inspector Richard Bull.
“Led by Chand they had built up an extremely profitable drugs empire and were very clearly willing to use potentially lethal violence to protect it from people they saw as rivals.”
Related links:
- Colombia’s most wanted drug lord Otoniel finally captured
- Guy injects magic mushrooms into his veins and they started growing in his blood
- The definitive list of movies and TV to see you through autumn
