Kanye Westmay soon be taking the witness stand at trial thanks to his indirect involvement in a federal wire fraud case in Chicago.
The “Eazy” rapper and his legal team have been subpoenaed to testify at the upcoming trial of Arjun Dhillon, a former employee of West’s accused of trying to scam $250,000 from a wealthy philanthropist, according to theChicago Tribune.
Dhillon’s attorneys have reportedly issued subpoenas to Pryor Cashman LLP, the law firm representing West, 44, in the case, and to the musician himself to appear at trial.
At a status hearing on Wednesday, Dhillon’s attorney Sheldon Zenner, who declined to comment, said that West has not been personally given notice of the subpoena, but that Pryor Cashman and the other firms representing him “have so far refused to accept service,” theTribunereported.
Kanye West.Johnny Nunez/Getty Images
The indictment says Dhillon was “briefly affiliated” with West, but was fired around October 2018, the year before his alleged scheme took place.
Dhillon allegedly created fake emails to convince the victim of his close relationship with West, and Dhillon’s bank flagged the transaction after the victim wired the money, according to the documents.
After Dhillon “falsely represented” his association with West to the bank in an effort to keep the money, the victim was eventually able to put a stop to the wire after alerting his own bank.
Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on April 4, and U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin told a Pryor Cashman attorney that it would be in everyone’s best interest “to simply accept receipt of the subpoena and file a motion to quash it if need be” before the trial begins, theTribunereported. A representative for Pryor Cashman did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
West, meanwhile, is currently embroiled in other legal drama involving his ongoing divorce from estranged wifeKim Kardashian.
The Skims founder, who filed for divorce in February 2021, wasdeclared legally singleearlier this month after West challenged her request, though the musician later said in a statement, “I’ve asked my team to expedite the dissolution of my marriage to Kim so I can put my entire attention to our beautiful children.”
Kardashian and West started dating in 2012 andwedin May 2014. They share four children:North, 8,Saint, 6,Chicago, 4, andPsalm, 2½.
TheDondarapper has sincetaken aim at his ex’s new boyfriendPete Davidson, and last week released an alarming music video for his song “Eazy” that featured a Claymation version of the comedian being kidnapped, tied up and buried alive. A second video featured a skinned monkey beating up Davidson, 28.
source: people.com
