Compton rapper Guerilla Black held in credit card fraud probe
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Compton rapper Guerilla Black was arrested in connection with a major credit card fraud investigation, police said Wednesday.
The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Charles Tony Williamson, was taken into custody Wednesday morning by local officers and agents from the U.S. Secret Service, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Black and four others were apprehended by authorities who served search warrants at seven locations across Los Angeles County. Black was on a pre-trial release after being indicted by federal authorities in Washington on fraud charges, Manhattan Beach police said in a statement.
In the Los Angeles-area fraud case, Black and the others allegedly took in profits in excess of $20,000 a month, according to police. Local authorities said the fraud resulted in losses at financial institutions in the United States and foreign countries including England, Switzerland and Nigeria.
A 2005 Times article noted that Black has a voice and appearance that some people have said are similar to Notorious B.I.G.
Black was born in Chicago and raised in Compton. Before becoming a rapper, he worked as a security guard at Target.
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— Robert J. Lopez
