Prison ends music, restaurant dreams

One man's goals were dashed by his brothers' drug and gang connections.

By JAMES WALSH and PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune

Last update: January 15, 2009 - 12:07 AM

Harold's Chicken Shack, a restaurant on W. Broadway, has long since closed. The Street Kingz rap group? It's a pretty good bet that it's unplugged.

The culinary and musical dreams of the Spencer brothers appeared to die Wednesday, when Antwoyn T. Spencer, 28, of Brooklyn Park, was sentenced in federal court in Minneapolis to 27 years in prison, and his younger brother Derrick J. Spencer, 27, of Maplewood, was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison. Their crime: Dealing drugs out of the restaurant and using it and the rap group to launder the drug proceeds.

Both were convicted in September 2007; Antwoyn Spencer on charges of conspiracy to distribute powder and crack cocaine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and Derrick Spencer on conspiracy and distribution charges. He also forfeited nearly $5,500 found in his car when he was arrested.

A third brother, Frederick D. Spencer, 30, of Minneapolis, was acquitted of money-laundering charges. Frederick Spencer's attorney said Frederick continues trying to build a life apart from his brothers, now that his restaurant dream has been dashed.

"I think economics had more to do with the restaurant's demise than this case," said Robert Oleisky, who represented Frederick during the brothers' trial.

Frederick Spencer graduated from DePaul University and, according to Oleisky, recently completed a master's program in business. He did not return a call seeking comment. Calls to attorneys for Antwoyn and Derrick Spencer also were not returned.

One chose a different path

But Oleisky said the brothers' lives have diverged sharply since Antwoyn and Derrick's convictions.

"My impression of him was, whatever you want to say about his brothers, he had forged his own life," Oleisky said. "He was the older brother. He made a choice. He loves them, but he wanted to make something of his life."

The brothers had insisted that part of that effort was the restaurant. But, according to court documents, federal investigators believe that the Harold's Chicken Shack franchise Frederick owned was used to help launder profits from a major cocaine distribution ring that operated in the Twin Cities from 1998 until 2007. The documents said that Antwoyn Spencer, a member of the Street Kingz rap group, was the leader of a major drug ring that laundered money through a number of real estate transactions, including the purchase and renovation of the Chicken Shack.

The investigation also revealed that the ring used the Street Kingz "to launder their drug proceeds," according to an investigator's affidavit.

In a Street Kingz song titled "The Minnesota Anthem," the group recites a history of drug dealing and gang life in "Murderapolis." Another song titled "Gangsta" describes the bloody lifestyle and warns wannabes to steer clear.

According to an April 23, 2006, story in the Star Tribune, the Street Kingz were scheduled to open for Atlanta rap star T.I. in a show at the Myth nightclub in Maplewood a week later. A call to Myth officials Wednesday was not returned. The group's fate now is unknown.

Oleisky said his impression is that Frederick Spencer is a hard worker who has surrounded himself with legitimate people as mentors in his efforts to build a successful life.

"He was dealt a huge emotional blow with his brothers and what his brothers have gone through being found guilty," Oleisky said. "But he was a strong enough individual to keep going. While this trial was going on last year, he was in school and continuing to work and continuing in his internship. He was doing as well as could be expected, given the circumstances."

James Walsh • 612-673-7428 Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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