Three of four suspects connected to the 2012 murder of Trill Entertainment rapper Lil Phat are now in custody, including a convicted Russian mobster.
Lil Phat (born Melvin Vernell III) was shot and killed on June 7, 2012 in a parking ramp at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. He was at the hospital about to become a father and was sitting in an Audi A7 when he was shot multiple times.
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Among the accused is convicted Russian mobster Mani Chulpayev, who was previously exposed in a WSB-TV investigation focusing on his Atlanta car business. Authorities said Lil Phat was involved in one of those car deals and that Chulpayev used a GPS tracker to locate the victim.
Chulpayev is accused of ordering a contract killing, using two gunmen from Alabama.
Two days before his murder, Lil Phat had told police Chulpayev had also leased him a BMW that had been reported stolen. The rapper was pulled over for speeding in April and was charged with receiving a stolen car.
Authorities said silencing Lil Phat was at least part of the motive.
A SWAT team arrested Chulpayev on April 12 in Broward County, Florida. His attorney said he’ll waive extradition and be moved to Atlanta soon to face charges.
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