The men who were convicted of murdering XXXTentacion in 2018 will have the rest of their lives to reflect on their actions as Judge Michael Usan sentenced them to life in prison for the murder of the “Moonlight” rapper.
In a short hearing on Thursday, smugness and smiles were missing from the face of 28-year-old Michael Boatwright, accused of being the one who shot XXXTentacion during a heist. He and his co-defendants Deidrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, were all sentenced to life in prison. Judge Usan reprimanded the defendants before handing down the heavy sentence.
“You, sir, are a perfect example of why we have a felony murder rule in this state,” Judge Usan addressed fellow gunman Newsome. “I’m pretty sure that after attending the trial, you didn’t wake up that morning thinking, ‘I’m going to kill someone today and I’m going to meet people who are going to kill someone. one, but you went for an armed robbery,” the judge said.
The judge told Newsome that when Newsome took the gun to go and rob someone, the victim’s death was a “predictable and foreseeable outcome” to rob someone. The judge also told Newsome his anger was misplaced after he lashed out at co-defendant turned state’s witness Robert Allen during the trial, calling him a “bitch.”
Newsome was sentenced to life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and on the second count he was sentenced to life in prison. The penalties must run concurrently.
The judge also told Newsome he was the perfect example of why there is a law of principles that ensures that any party who was an essential part of the crime and without his actions the murder would not have had place.
“This court is shocked by your behavior after the murder. A person who had a measure of human decency or remorse for killing someone probably wouldn’t be seen dancing and filming themselves with stolen money, how proud you were of yourself. You should understand that while you were dancing on that bed and throwing bills on the floor… you should think of this as throwing away the days, weeks and months of your life… the very next day when you went to spend that blood money for t-shirts and sneakers, you revealed to the court the value you placed on the human life that was taken,” Judge Usan told Williams.
Williams is said to be the mastermind behind the crime, who chose XXX as the robbery victim and even convinced the others to participate in the robbery. Williams is sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm.
The judge clarified that a life sentence means no possibility of parole, regardless of your age, because Florida has abolished parole as part of prison sentences.
Judge Usan also called Boatwright someone who turned a robbery into murder.
Judge Usan didn’t hold back when addressing Boatwright, who was filmed firing the shot that killed the 20-year-old rapper.
“The day you stood there and fired that gun, you didn’t just end a life. You effectively ended five lives, including your own,” Judge Usan told Boatwright, who was visibly deadpan during the hearing, a very different demeanor from weeks ago when he gave kisses to the defendant’s family and was seen smiling as key evidence was given.
“You will spend the rest of your life in prison. From there you will go and be placed in a cell which has a stainless steel slab attached to a wall – this is your bed and next to it is a stainless steel sink and a stainless steel toilet – this is your” piece of furniture” that you have in this cell. You will spend every hour and every day and every week and every year of your life in this cell, and one day they will come and open this cell and you will be dead and only then will you have served your sentence”, said the judge.
Boatwright must also serve life in prison for discharging the gun and killing XXXTentacion, and for robbery with a gun he will serve life in Florida state prison. His sentences are consecutive and not concurrent like his co-defendants.
The three defendants were given 1732 days credit marking their arrest and detention during the trial.
Meanwhile, XXXTentacion Entertainment Director Solomon Sobande took to the stage to deliver a statement on behalf of the rapper’s family. Sobande said when the family received the call that XXXTentacion, whose real name is Jahseh Onfroy, had been senselessly murdered, it changed their lives forever.
“A young man’s life was cut short at the tender age of 20. A young man well on his way to becoming a man and leaving the world a better place than he found it. We witnessed the entire trial without seeing the defendants display an ounce of remorse for taking Jahseh’s life. Smiling at us, blowing kisses at us, waving at us, not even considering the fact that you not only killed a son, but you killed a father,” Sobande said.
“Because of the actions of these killers, Jahseh will never be able to meet his son let alone raise him. Generations of our family have been affected by this senseless murder. It is a loss we will never truly recover from. We we can never see Jahseh live to reach his full potential, we can never see him grow old and we can never see him become a father. Jahseh was not spared in his final moments and I hope the court sees fit to spare the lives of any of the defendants,” Sobande added.
XXXTentacion’s great-aunt Melanie Jones also released a statement on behalf of the rapper’s great-grandmother, who helped raise him.
“Jahseh was loved by his family and friends all over the world and you murdered him and left a gaping hole in everyone’s heart. Every time I attended court and watched you especially you Michael Boatwright, I saw you smile and you showed no remorse…you showed no empathy for the family you destroyed with your evil and ruthless acts,” Jones said.
Jones asked why the defendants had to kill the rapper instead of just robbing him. She didn’t hold back in her fiery, raging statement when she told the defendants she wanted them to get the death penalty, but since that wasn’t on the table, ‘whatever the hole you’re sent to, I hope it’s hell and you rot there.”