- Jacob Arabo
Jacob Arabo (a.k.a. "Jacob the Jeweler", born Yakov Arabov) is a famed Bukharian-American Jewish jeweler who is owner and founder of Jacob & Company. He also claims fame to providing watches and other jewelry to hip hop artists,
National Basketball Association playersno] , andRudy Giuliani in theUnited States .iuyiuyiyuiyiuyLegal issues
In
November 24 ,2004 Cartier filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Arabo, claiming he took Cartier watches and added diamonds, then resold them without permission. The Law and Order season 17 episode calledBling was based on his case.In June 2006, Arabo was arrested by the FBI on
money laundering charges. He is said to have used his jewelry business to launder up to 270 million dollars in drug money for theBlack Mafia Family drug ring. Arabo denied all charges and was released after posting bail. OnOctober 31 ,2007 , Arabo pleaded guilty to falsifying records and giving false statements to investigators who were looking into the drug ring, and faces a maximum of 46 months in jail and $US2,000,000 penalty. As part of the plea deal, the charges for money laundering were dropped. [cite news |first=Corey |last= Williams|title= 'Jacob the Jeweler' pleads guilty |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071101/ap_en_ot/people_jacob_jeweler |publisher=Associated Press |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2007-11-01 ]The Black Mafia family's exploits have been featured on [http://www.amw.com/features/feature_story_detail.cfm?id=818 America's Most Wanted] .
On June 24, 2008, he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in the money-laundering operation. [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5im3n5JbO6s5csCpxK8CH4hkLAoCQD91GI50O0] As of 2008, Jacob Arabo was sentenced to sixteen months in prison and has to pay $32 million. There is no bail fee.
Partial list of songs that reference Jacob Arabo
Please note, that although this list is not complete, there is a trend that his name is being referenced more and more throughout the years. Although some artists say his name more than once, his popularity in songs is growing.
*1999 "Girl's Best Friend" by
Jay-Z
*2000 "Put it On Me" byJa Rule (Feat. Vita)
*2000 "Pullin Me In" byWyclef Jean
*2000 "Round Up" byLady May (Feat. Blu Cantrell & RV)
*2001 "Get Out My Way" byCormega
*2003 "Thoia Thoing" byR Kelly
*2003 "Smellz Like A Party" byB2K
*2004 "Breathe Freestyle" aka in 2005 "Collecting Taxes" byCanibus
*2004 "All Falls Down byKanye West (Feat. Syleena)
*2004 "Never Let Me Down by Kanye West (Feat. Jay-Z)
*2004 "We Don't Care" by Kanye West
*2004 "Diamonds Are Forever" by Kanye West
*2004 "Ain't No Click" byLloyd Banks (Feat.Tony Yayo )
*2004 "Pop That Booty" by Marques Houston (Feat.Jermaine Dupri )
*2005 "Da' Facelift" aka "Full Battle Rattle" by Canibus
*2005 "Poppin That Booty" by Marques Houston
*2005 "Curious" by Tony Yayo
*2005 "Project Princess" by Tony Yayo
*2005 "Stay Strapped" byYoung Jeezy
*2005 "In My Hood" by50 Cent
*2005 "Hate It or Love It" by The Game
*2005 "Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)" by Kanye West
*2005 "Touch the Sky" by Kanye West (Feat.Lupe Fiasco )
*2005 "Get In My Car" by 50 Cent
*2005 "Used 2 Be" byRyan Leslie (Feat.Fabolous )
*2006 "Yakub Da Jeweler (Skit)" by Lord Jamar
*2006 "Mr. Me Too" by Clipse (Feat. Pharrell)
*2006 "Innovators" by The Beyonders
*2006 "Say Word" by Uno Dos (Feat.Lakey The Kid , Cormega, & Cuba)
*2006 "Money Over Bullshit" byNas
*2006 "Hip Hop is Dead" by Nas
*2006 "A Week Ago (Part 2)" byDJ Clue , The Game &Mario Winans
*2006 "Upgrade U" byBeyoncé Knowles & Jay-Z
*2006 "Wamp Wamp (What it Do?)" ByClipse (Ft.Slim Thug )
*2006 "All I Want is Mine" byInspectah Deck
*2007 "Diamonds On My Damn Chain" byFabolous (Feat.Lil Wayne )
*2007 "Slap it On" by Da G Street Kidz
*2007 "Ding!" byRoyce Da 5'9"
*2007 "Pull It" by Joe Munro
*2007 "I'm Not Going Anywhere (I.N.G.A)" by Young Argo (Feat. Common)
*2007 "Real Playa Like" by Fabolous
*2007 "Trapstar" by Young Jeezy
*2007 "Success" by Jay-Z (Feat. Nas)
*2007 "I Get Money (Billion Dollar Remix)" by 50 Cent
*2007 "House Around My Neck" byYa Boy
*2007 "Baby Don't Go" byFabolous (Feat.Rihanna )
*2007 "Hold On" byYoung Buck (Feat.50 Cent )
*2008 "Legend of the Fall Offs" by Busta Rhymes
*2008 "Money" by The GameReferences
Every Gucci Mane Song
External links
* [http://www.jacobandco.com/history.htm Official site]
* [http://www.europastar.com/europastar/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000726397 Europa Star report on the Cartier suit]
* [http://www.city-magazine.com/profile_04_ND_jacob.html CITY profile]
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