Date: 7/21/95
To: SAC, LOS ANGELES (28A-LA-NEW)

From: [Redacted]

Subject: UNSUB(S)
MASTER RECORDINGS OF ERIC WRIGHT
COPYRIGHT MATTER
OO: LOS ANGELES

RE memo to SAC dated 07/05/95

The writer was advised by [redacted] who advised that during his investigation into estate claims, former RUTHLESS RECORDS (RR) [redacted] advised that rapper EAZY-E had several master recordings in two suitcases in the trunk of his car prior to his death. These belong to the estate of EAZY-E. [Redacted] believes that [redacted] set up a deal with a man in Canada named [redacted] who had these masters in his possession.

[Redacted] was advised by [redacted] that [redacted] said [redacted] had put him up to it. An attorney from [redacted] firm telephonically contacted [redacted] and confirmed this. [Redacted] later changed his story and stated that [redacted] had told him to set up the company, not [redacted]. [Redacted] subsequently questioned both [redacted] and [redacted] and both denied knowing [redacted] or giving him any recordings.

The writer has interviewed [redacted] of RUTHLESS RECORDS who has stated that he has no knowledge of who [redacted] is or [redacted] or [redacted] involvement in the case. The writer has also interviewed [redacted] who has advised that her client has no knowledge of who [redacted] is. Additionally, she denies sending suitcases of master recordings to [redacted]. [Redacted] has given a deposition in the estate case stating that "I have never met [redacted]. [Redacted] have never hired him for any purpose, and I have never paid him any money for any purpose;".

The writer has also interviewed [redacted] who denies having anything to do with providing the master recordings to [redacted]. [Redacted] has provided the writer with four original tapes of telephone conversations he had with [redacted] in an attempt to determine who set this up. The writer has reviewed the tapes where [redacted] states that [redacted] each to set up an office for RR in Ontario. He states that she [redacted] claims to have taped conversations with [redacted] regarding setting up the deal.

The original telephone number for [redacted] was [redacted] with a business address of [redacted] this number is no longer in service. During one of the taped conversations between [redacted] he gives a pager number of [redacted]. [Redacted] claims that he has put all evidence in this matter in storage in Canada and during conversation with [redacted]. In addition, [redacted] states that he can't come back to Los Angeles because he [redacted]. He also claims that [redacted].

The following investigation needs to be conducted:

1. Have the four tapes provided by [redacted] transcribed.
2. Prepare FD-192 for the twpes once a case number has been assigned.

3. [Redacted] may be in his [redacted]. Attempt to run wants and warrants for him using the name [redacted] for [redacted] in LAPD's computer.

4. Send lead to Legat Ottawa, to contact landlord for above business address to obtain possible whereabouts for [redacted]. Attempt to obtain subscriber information for the business number and pager number for [redacted].

5. Obtain [redacted] home telephone number from her attorney (if she will provide it) for the house she is renting in [redacted]. If the attorney will not provide it, ask [redacted] to research any of his records to obtain the number. Then subpoena her records to see if there are telephone calls to the business or pager number in Canada. Remember that she allegedly called him only once to find out who he was. (See FD-302 for [redacted].

6. [Redacted] has agreed to take a polygraph regarding this matter. Consider using it to rule him out which would leave [redacted] as the only other person with access to those masters.

7. Contact [redacted] and request a meeting with [redacted] and the accountants to determine if their audit has uncovered embezzlement of funds from RR as alleged by [redacted]

8. Read FD-302 of [redacted] and determine if anyone should be interviewed regarding meetings between [redacted] and others at which they discuss being in possession of masters or DATS (high quality tapes) of EAZY-E's and want to put out an album. [Redacted] was fired in [redacted] from RR and has no legal right to possess such recordings.

It should be noted that [redacted] is a valuable source of information since he has access to all of [redacted]. He has provided copies of depositions and other pertinent information regarding this matter and originally contacted the FBI regarding this case. He can be reached at [redacted].

It should also be noted that [redacted] has been very cooperative but will not allow the FBI to speak with her client without a non-target letter as noted in her letter to the writer which is contained in the file.
__________________________

FD-302

Date of transcription 7/21/95

On July 18, 1995, [redacted] appeared at the Los Angeles Office of the FBI with [redacted] for the purpose of being interviewed regarding his knowledge of copyright matters. [Redacted] was advised of the identity of the interviewing agent and the purpose of the interview and provided the information contained herein.

[Redacted]
[Redacted]

Sometime in 1991 he received a phone call from [redacted] of RR who said he needed help because some of the [redacted] were threatening to kill WRIGHT and [redacted] if [redacted] didn't release the other NWA members from their contracts.

When [redacted] called [redacted] to consult with him on a course of action [redacted] told [redacted] to call the police. [Redacted] stated that he couldn't do this because of the type of people, namely gang members, that he was dealing with and RR's artists were rap artists, some of which were former or current gang members. [Redacted] didn't want to lose his artists. [Redacted] provided bodyguards to protect [redacted] and WRIGHT and brought in attorneys to help settle the business disputes.

[Redacted]. Since WRIGHT's death [redacted] has not been allowed to enter RR.

[Redacted] was asked to provide information regarding a man named [redacted] who is allegedly in possession of two brief cases which contain master recordings of WRIGHT and which belong to RR. He stated that he received a telephone call from the [redacted] who told him that a man in Canada was opening an office using the name of RR and that someone had changed the message on the answering machine stating that RR had moved to Canada and provided the caller with a new telephone number for RR. [Redacted] told [redacted] that when [redacted] spoke with [redacted] he told [redacted] that [redacted] had put him up to it. [Redacted] asked him if he knew [redacted] and he stated he did not. He advised the writer that he only knows one person in Canada and that she had contacted RR in 1994 and needed licensing clearance for RR to sell their products in Canada. [Redacted] had told this woman to send the required paperwork to RR so that RR could go ahead and sell RR products there. He does not know if RR ever received the paperwork and never did a follow-up on this matter.

On or about May 9, 1995 [redacted] called [redacted] and asked him who gave him permission to use RR's name and why he was doing this. He said "It's a free country" and that he could use whatever name he wanted. The first time he called Canada to speak with [redacted] another man answered the phone and [redacted] left his pager number for [redacted] to page him. [Redacted] paged [redacted] and [redacted] called him back. [Redacted] told [redacted] that using the name of RR was copyright infringement and that he would get the authorities to close him down. After some discussion [redacted] admitted that he did not know how involved this was and that [redacted] put him up to it.

At this point in the interview, [redacted] provided the writer with four original tapes which contained conversations between [redacted] and [redacted] that [redacted] had recorded without [redacted] knowledge.

During these conversations, [redacted] never mentioned that he had master recordings but [redacted] believes he does have DATS. [Redacted] told [redacted] that he had two titanium briefcases that [redacted] gave him but that he doesn't know the contents and hasn't been able to open them. [Redacted] said that the description of the briefcases matched the two briefcases that [redacted] had and usually contained DATS of [redacted] recordings which [redacted] kept in the trunk of his car. The writer asked [redacted] if the heat would destroy the DATS if they were kept in the trunk for a long period of time and [redacted] said they would not be destroyed by the heat.

[Redacted] stated that [redacted] wanted [redacted] to give him money in exchange for one of the suitcases. He stated that he wanted $25,000. He told [redacted] that [redacted] had already given him and one other man working with him $12,500 each for going up to Canada but that she wouldn't pay them the rest of the money. [Redacted] believes that [redacted] may have also asked the Special Administrator for money as well. [Redacted] told [redacted] that [redacted] told him what to do in setting up the office in Canada and to go to the press and talk about what a poor job [redacted] was doing in managing RR.

[Redacted] was asked by the writer who had access to the vaults where WRIGHT kept his master recordings. He stated that [redacted] and [redacted] were the only ones with keys.

[Redacted] denies having any masters or DATS that are the property of RR. [Redacted]

[Redacted] states that he was contacted by and met with a homicide detective from the BEVERLY HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT recently. They were apparently looking into WRIGHT's death and investigating whether WRIGHT died on his own.

[Redacted] was asked what he knew about [redacted]. He stated that to his knowledge, she was one of WRIGHT's girlfriends. She married him "24 hours before he goes into a coma". [Redacted] believes that [redacted] lived with WRIGHT but was suppose to move out. She did but then moved back in when WRIGHT became ill. He broke up with [redacted] prior to entering the hospital. [Redacted] stated that WRIGHT stayed at the apartment of another girlfriend named [redacted] LNU). He went to New York in December of 1994 to the MTV Music Awards and took another girl named [redacted] (LNU). [Redacted] told the writer that WRIGHT had no reason to marry [redacted] because he enjoyed having several girlfriends.
[Redacted]. He was asked by the writer to provide information about his current employment. He stated that he [redacted]. One is located in [redacted] and the other is located in [redacted]. He claims to be [redacted]. He stated that he also [redacted].

He was asked by the writer if he is setting up a competing business with RR and he stated that he is not at this time but may in the future. He claims that he is not currently setting up any deals with artists. He stated that some artists have told him they are interested in doing business with [redacted] in record deals.

[Redacted] was asked if he was friendly with [redacted]. He stated that he talks with him occasionally. [Redacted] lives in either [redacted] or [redacted] his telephone number is [redacted]. He lives two doors from a house owned by [redacted] also talks with [redacted] calls him once in a while for information. He has also spoken with [redacted] about accounting information.

[Redacted] was asked who had access to the answering machine at RR and could change the message on the answering machine. He stated that [redacted] and [redacted] claims that he doesn't have the code to change the answering machine and had never heard of [redacted] until he was contacted by the Special Administrator.

[Redacted] was advised by the writer that certain individuals associated with this case claim that [redacted]. He denied that and stated that he has no association with [redacted]. He claims that the last time he traveled outside of the United States was in [redacted].

[Redacted] was asked what he knew about the "bootlegging" of BTH music. He stated that [redacted] had heard that [redacted] at RELATIVITY RECORDS had information regarding this. [Redacted] stated that he had no other information regarding this.

[Redacted] added that during his conversation with [redacted] [redacted] claimed that he couldn't return to the United States because [redacted]. [Redacted] believes that [redacted] and the other man with him are caucasians. [Redacted] last contact with [redacted] was [redacted]. He doesn't know where he is now.

[Redacted] agreed to by polygraphed if requested to do so by the FBI. He provided the writer with a copy of a three page Memorandum dated 05/09/95, written by an attorney named [redacted]. The memo summarizes a conversation between [redacted] and [redacted] during which [redacted] states that [redacted] put him up to this and that he doesn't know who [redacted] is.

[Redacted] provided the following descriptive information:

Name [redacted]
Address [redacted]

Date of Birth [redacted]
Place of Birth [redacted]
Citizenship [redacted]

Attached to and considered a part of this investigative insert is a copy of a Memorandum dated 05/09/95, written by an attorney named [redacted]. The memo summarizes a conversation between [redacted] during which [redacted] states that [redacted] sent him to Canada to set up an office for RUTHLESS RECORDS and that he doesn't know who [redacted] is. This document was given to Special Agent [redacted] by [redacted] on July 18, 1995.