Attorney General's News Release

April 26, 2002

Rapper with rap sheet who was part of Nelly's St. Lunatics pays state $25,000 for incarceration costs

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon announced today that his office has obtained $25,000 for reimbursement of incarceration costs from Lavell Webb, a.k.a City Spud, a now-imprisoned rapper who was part of the St. Lunatics, a group that performs with St. Louis hip-hop star Nelly. Webb is serving a 10-year sentence in a Missouri prison after pleading guilty to robbery and armed criminal action in 1999 for his role in a robbery in St. Louis County that left another man seriously wounded.

"When inmates have assets, they should pay for their room and board, not the taxpayers," Nixon said. "We've recovered money from inmates that has come from stocks, life insurance policies and even lottery winnings, but assets from music royalties may be a first."

The $25,000 paid by Webb to the state from his royalties as part of the St. Lunatics is part of a $100,000 consent judgment obtained by Nixon in March in Cole County Circuit Court. Webb will pay the rest of the money in equal annual payments of $10,714 through December 2008.

Nixon used the state's Inmate Incarceration Reimbursement Act to recover the cost of inmate care from Webb. The 1988 law entitles the state to recover costs from inmates after any obligations to spouse or children are met.

Last year, the Attorney General's Office collected a record $345,306 from Missouri inmates. Since taking office in 1993, Nixon has recovered nearly $1.7 million for taxpayers under the reimbursement law.

Webb helped produce several of the songs on Nelly's album, "Country Grammar," which was nominated for a 2001 Grammy award. The St. Lunatics, who released an album last year entitled, "Free City," also have toured with the popular R&B/hip-hop trio, Destiny's Child.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818