Police: Rapper Fabolous Has Ties To Stolen Lamborghini
Posted: 5:15 pm EST November 19, 2009Updated: 6:45 pm EST November 19, 2009
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ATLANTA — Atlanta police say platinum-selling rapper Fabolous, whose real name in John Jackson, may have crucial information involving the theft of a rare sports car taken from the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead.
SLIDESHOW: Pictures Of Stolen Lamborghini
Channel 2 Action News consumer investigator Jim Strickland, who first broke the story last year, obtained surveillance video from the Intercontinental showing how the 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, one of only two brought in the United States, was taken.
“The bellman gave the keys to the wrong person. It was a mistake,” said John Jackson, an attorney representing Eric Vargosko, the car’s rightful owner.
Vargosko said he learned that his car was missing from the hotel’s valet lot when it came time to check out.
Sources confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that around 5 a.m. on Jan. 31, rapper Fabolous and his entourage left the Intercontinental.
Two men from the rapper’s entourage went to the bellman, got keys to the Lamborghini and climbed into the car as if it was their own. Fabolous was not part of that crew.
The men soon drove off, and the rest of the group followed behind in a minivan.
“I would wonder how many crimes go unpunished when there’s a surveillance video that shows what happened,” said Jackson.
Strickland obtained an e-mail from a police detective who confirmed that the rapper knows the men who drove off in the car.
But Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard would not sign off on a subpoena to the grand jury to force Fabolous to name names. The detective said there are no other leads.
“It makes me feel like Eric’s not going to get justice,” Jackson said.
Vargosko is suing the hotel in federal court.
“I did nothing wrong … and to be forced to hire an attorney, it’s just wrong,” said Vargosko.
Paul Howard issued a statement saying police had promised immunity in exchange for help finding the car.
The statement said, in part, “I believe the integrity of the promise was more important than pursuing suspects.”
Strickland reached out to the hotel’s lawyer and the publicist from Fabolous.
“The InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta has accepted responsibility for this unfortunate incident from its inception and has always been willing to provide fair and reasonable compensation for the damages caused to the vehicle by the incident,” said Caroline Counihan in a statement to Channel 2. “We hold the safety, comfort and well-being of our guests and employees as our top priority and concern. We have taken several measures, including heightening security, so that a repeat of this incident does not happen.”
The rapper’s publicist never responded. from wsbtv.com and mediatakeout
