In their most recent filing the U.S. authorities have mentioned Grammy winning rapper/producer Swizz Beatz as a potential U.S. representative for Megaupload. In response to Megaupload’s motion to dismiss based on lack of jurisdiction, the feds are trying to find a way to serve the company on U.S. soil. Beatz, husband of R&B superstar Alicia Keys, was previously listed as Megaupload’s CEO but the authorities say he is refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
On the day Megaupload was shut down, the company website listed rapper/producer Swizz Beatz as company CEO.
The popular rapper/producer was one of the stars who endorsed MegaUpload in public, and he reportedly recruited several artists for the Mega Song promotion.
Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, is married to R&B superstar Alicia Keys. He won his first Grammy Award in 2011 with Jay Z for the song “On To The Next One.”
But despite his strong ties to Megaupload, Beatz was not named in the indictment as a member of the “Mega Conspiracy.” However, now that the case is progressing, Beatz is being involved by the U.S. authorities.
In the most recent filing the U.S. opposes Megaupload’s motion to dismiss based on a lack of jurisdiction. The defense team argued that Megaupload can’t be subjected to a criminal prosecution, because the law doesn’t allow foreign companies to be served. However, the U.S. disagrees.
United States Attorney Neil MacBride sums up a variety of reasons why it can, and in a footnote it is mentioned that Megaupload previously employed two CEOs living in the U.S.
“After Defendant Dotcom became Defendant Megaupload’s Chief Innovation Officer, the company appears to have employed at least two Chief Executive Officers in the United States: first David Robb and then Kasseem David Dean (also known as Swizz Beatz),” the filing reads.
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