Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Chicago blogger “Trenches News” was paid $24,963 over 15 installments to be an informant in the FBG Duck trial.
FBG Duck‘s murder trial is currently underway, and an FBI agent has informed jurors that a rap blogger was paid almost $25K to be an informant.
A report from the Chicago Sun Times published on Monday (November 27) reveals that Trenches News YouTube channel creator Martell Wiley was paid $24,963 over roughly 15 installments for his cooperation in the investigation of the rapper’s killing, according to testimony from FBI Special Agent Kevin Doyle.
There has been widespread speculation in the rap blogosphere that Wiley had violated the no-snitch street code and was identified in court records as “Cooperator 1,” who prosecutors said provided information about the O Block faction of the Black Disciples that’s at the center of the murder and racketeering case.
During an interview days before the trial began last month, Wiley dispelled what he described as rumors while sidestepping a question about whether he had been paid to cooperate with law enforcement.
Within days, he changed his tune in a bizarre video posted to his YouTube channel. Wearing his signature face mask in an empty courtroom that he said was inside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Wiley admitted he was testifying in what he described as “the trial of the century.”
Doyle stated that Wiley’s participation officially began in April 2021, though he’d allegedly called the Chicago Police Department just one day after the August 2020 shooting to offer his help.
“He would provide background information. He reviewed surveillance footage [and] reviewed social media postings,” Doyle said.