Wells Fargo is disputing allegations made by Memphis rapper Blac Youngsta that he was racially profiled by the bank and Atlanta police after he withdrew $200,000 in cash last week.
A spokesperson for Wells Fargo bank told Hiphopenquirer.com exclusively that Youngsta never made a withdrawal, and furthermore, he doesn’t have an account at Wells Fargo bank.
The rapper, whose real name is Sam Benson, made headlines last week when he claimed he was detained by Atlanta police after making a $200,000 withdrawal from his account at the Wells Fargo at 3235 Peachtree Road on Friday.
Wells Fargo released an official statement, saying “Mr. Benson is not an account holder with us. He did not enter our store nor did he make any withdrawals.
Pictures uploaded to Instagram.com show the rapper on the ground in handcuffs while an officer stood over him.
According to Sergeant Warren Pickard of the Atlanta Police Dept., the media reports are “not accurate.”
Pickard said Benson and several of his associates were detained “briefly” and Benson had only $70,000 in his possession — not $200,000 — and no money was taken from him.
Benson, who is best known for his 2014 single “Heavy,” received a $200,000 bonus when he signed to Yo Gotti‘s CMG record label last year.
Below is the full statement from the Atlanta Police Department.
Greetings Media Outlets,
On January 8, 2016, Atlanta Police Officers were dispatched to the Wells Fargo Bank, 3235 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia. The 911 caller stated that a male was trying to cash a forged check valued at $24,000. The description of the male provided to police was limited and conflicting.
The Video Integration Center (VIC) using the camera system were able to get a visual of a possible suspect inside a car in the parking lot of the bank. This information was relayed to officers on the scene. The car was stopped and everyone inside the car was briefly detained. It was quickly discovered that the person providing the description to police had provided the wrong description of the suspect. It was determined that the occupants of the vehicle were not involved. They were immediately released.
The caller identified Mr. Charles Darnell Edward (03/02/1976) as the male attempting to cash the fraudulent $24,000 CHECK. Mr. Edwards was arrested at the scene and charged with forgery in the first degree (felony).
The Rapper, who identified himself as “Blac Youngsta”, by coincidence happened to be at the bank at the same time. Upon police officers arriving on scene, they made a brief detention of him until a positive identification by the caller was made. This incident did not directly involved Blac Youngsta, nor was he accused of committing a crime.
Sergeant Warren Pickard
Atlanta Police Department
