Yella Beezy Trial: Cash and Hotel Records at Center

Prosecutors in the Markies Conway trial focused on physical evidence of cash and hotel bookings after key witness Theodore Thomas declined to answer questions. Conway, known professionally as Yella Beezy, faces charges related to the 2020 murder of rapper MO3. The state alleges Conway hired Kewon White and Devin Brown to commit the killing. White has already been convicted and sentenced to life in prison, while Brown is scheduled to go to trial later this year.

Thomas, also known as Jose Bodega, was expected to testify before the jury. He had previously provided testimony to the grand jury that indicted Conway. When prosecutors questioned him in court, Thomas repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. This left the state to rely on other witnesses to establish the connection between Conway and the murder plot.

A Federal Reserve Bank of New York official testified about photographs of currency that included specific serial numbers. A West Hollywood hotel employee also took the stand. The employee confirmed that Conway was listed as an additional guest on a reservation from November 2020, the month MO3 was killed. These details align with the timeframe prosecutors claim Conway coordinated the hiring of the killers.

Mount Pleasant police officer Juan Hernandez testified about a traffic stop involving Kewon White. Hernandez stated that he recovered guns, drugs, and just under $10,000 in cash during the stop. He noted that he does not typically write down serial numbers on seized money. When asked about the cash, Hernandez said, "I believe it was deposited the next day if I'm not mistaken."

The state must convince the jury that Conway paid White and Brown to murder MO3. Conway's trial is expected to last two to three weeks. The next steps in the proceedings will depend on further testimony from witnesses who can link Conway to the financial transactions and the hotel stay in question.