The man convicted of murdering Memphis rapper Young Dolph is getting more years behind bars.
As reported by ABC24, Justin Johnson was sentenced to 50 more years in prison in Shelby County, TN during a hearing on Friday, Nov. 1. The new sentence will be added to the automatic life sentence he received upon his first-degree murder conviction on Sept. 26.
Judge Jennifer Mitchell sentenced Johnson to 35 years for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and 15 years for felony firearm possession. The two additional charges will be served concurrently.
Prior to sentencing, Dolph’s family issued a statement to the courtroom:
“To the one responsible for taking him from us just know this: You may deny your actions but the evidence speaks clearly,” the statement read in part, referring to Dolph’s death. “You showed yourself to be driven by jealousy and cowardice. You may have tried to take a man down for the sake of envy, but in the end have lost far more than you could ever gain. The world sees you now for what you are.”
The sentencing comes after Johnson’s legal team filed a motion to vacate his sentence and grant him a new trial. The motion, filed on October 25, claimed that the evidence was insufficient to find Johnson guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It also claims that the court “erred by admitting gruesome photographs of the victim’s body at the crime scene” and by admitting “gruesome autopsy photographs.” Johnson’s lawyers also claim that the court made a mistake in denying his motions to sit at the counsel table.
A hearing for the motion is scheduled for December 12.
RELATED:
Shooter in Young Dolph Murder Sentenced to Life in Prison
Young Dolph Shooter Says He Received $800 of Promised $100K Bounty for His Role In Rapper’s Slaying
Small Doses’ Podcast: Mia Jaye On Going To Couple’s Therapy With Young Dolph