Taxstone, the once-prominent hip-hop podcaster, is facing additional legal troubles while serving a 35-year prison sentence for his role in the fatal 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza. The Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) inmate has been hit with new charges related to contraband smuggling, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced on March 6, 2025.
Contraband Smuggling Allegations
Authorities allege that Taxstone, whose real name is Daryl Campbell, worked alongside five other inmates to smuggle drugs, cigarettes, a scalpel, and other banned items into MDC between April and June 2024. The scheme reportedly involved inmates using a makeshift rope system to retrieve contraband from outside the facility.
A press release from federal prosecutors detailed how recordings from an illegal cell phone captured Taxstone explaining his method of throwing a “line” out of an MDC window, allowing an accomplice on the outside to attach contraband, which could then be pulled back inside.
Authorities disrupted the plan on June 30, 2024, when correctional officers intercepted a package tied to the rope. The confiscated items included:
- Suboxone (a drug used to treat opioid addiction)
- Marijuana
- A scalpel
- A phone charger
- Lighters and cigarettes
If convicted on the new charges, Taxstone could have another 10 years added to his current prison sentence.
Wider Crackdown at MDC
Taxstone is one of eight inmates at MDC Brooklyn charged with contraband-related offenses. A former correctional officer is also accused of attempting to smuggle marijuana and cigarettes into the facility.
Additionally, authorities have charged 16 more individuals—including an MS-13 gang associate—for offenses related to violent assaults and fraud inside MDC.
Among the incidents under investigation is the stabbing of Karl Jordan, one of the convicted killers of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay. On February 22, 2025, Jordan was attacked in a brutal brawl inside the prison, suffering multiple stab wounds.
Federal prosecutors say five men—Brian Castro, Franklin Gillespie, Juan Lopez, Jowenky Nunez Jr., Hugo Rodriguez, and Elvis Trejo—have been charged with assault for their role in the attack.
According to the official report, the men approached another inmate armed with weapons and began chasing and stabbing him. The victim—believed to be Jordan—was stabbed 18 times and required hospitalization. The attack resulted in:
- Over 20 inmates requiring medical assessments
- At least five inmates hospitalized
- Ten inmates sustaining stab or slash wounds
While Jordan has reportedly recovered, authorities have not confirmed whether he was specifically targeted in the attack.
Taxstone’s Legal History
In 2023, Taxstone was convicted of manslaughter, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon for his involvement in the deadly 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza during a T.I. concert. The shooting resulted in the death of Troy Ave’s bodyguard, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, and injuries to Troy Ave himself, who was shot in both legs.
Two other concertgoers—a man and a woman—were also seriously wounded during the altercation.
Taxstone, who has maintained his innocence, previously vowed to appeal his conviction. However, with these new contraband charges, his legal battles appear far from over.
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