Mos Def faces music after alleged Vegas camera-snatching. Actor and rapper Mos Def is charged with felony robbery and malicious destruction of private property after allegedly taking a photographer’s equipment. A warrant has been issued for Mos, who is said to have snatched the man’s camera after saying he didn’t want his photo taken at a fashion event. The photographer, reports say, didn’t even know who the performer was when he snapped pics at the Men’s Apparel and Garment Industry Convention. Mos Def is accused of destroying the equipment and then leaving with it.

Ex-football star’s acquaintance admits wanting cash.

Former O.J. Simpson associate Thomas Riccio pulled down $210,000 from media outlets including TMZ.com for his hotel set-up of the football legend, Riccio says. The man who tape-recorded Simpson’s alleged robbery and kidnapping of memorabilia dealers in Vegas a year ago told Simpson’s lawyer on Monday that Simpson wanted the souvenirs as “heirlooms.” Simpson and his friend, C.J. Stewart, are on trial for multiple felonies after they were accused, along with four others, of forcefully taking thousands of dollars worth of memorabilia and Simpson family photos from the collectors. Simpson claimed the property had been stolen from him. Riccio testified that he first approached two California police departments and the FBI to tell them that Alfred Beardsley, one of the alleged robbery victims, was selling stolen property. After getting no response, Riccio told Simpson of the hotel room where Beardsley and his partner were keeping the property. Riccio says he planted a tape recorder in the room, later earning $150,000 from TMZ.com, $25,000 from “Entertainment Tonight,” $20,000 by a sponsor of Howard Stern’s radio show for his tape, plus $15,000 by ABC for an unrelated photo. Judge Jackie Glass ordered Riccio to disclose the amounts he earned, although he claimed that contracts prohibited his doing so. Do you think this testimony will lead to an acquittal of O.J. – or is he destined to go down, no matter what?

Attorney claims Vegas cops are out to get O.J.

O.J. Simpson’s lawyer claims the cops in Vegas were out to get his client. Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, said authorities were in a rush to judgment in the kidnapping and armed robbery case against the ex-NFL star. Galanter said during the investigation a year ago, a recorder captured comments by one of the officers saying, “They didn’t get him in California; we’re going to get him now.” A detective questioned by Galanter said the officers did make some comments, but he didn’t remember exactly what was said. Galanter claims police quickly made Simpson the focus of their investigation into a hotel room confrontation and might have been out to “get” him. The recorder was hidden in the Las Vegas hotel room where Simpson and five other men allegedly robbed two memorabilia dealers at gunpoint last year. Simpson and a co-defendant have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges.  Do you agree with Simpson’s lawyers that the cops are out to get the former baller?

MLK Memorial Closer to Being a Reality

A memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr., may be one step closer to being a reality.  The group working on the project says it plans to apply for building permits after getting positive feedback on the project’s overall design, The Associated Press reports. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts says there are still some details to work out, but there has been enough progress to seek the building plans. The group must have its construction permits OK’d by Nov, 12th, when its authorization from Congress expires, AP reports. The head of the memorial group says if needed, the organization will seek an extension from lawmakers.

Jury selection begins in the football legend’s second major criminal trial

For the second time, a criminal jury is being assembled to determine the fate of ex-football star O.J. Simpson. The Heisman Trophy-winner faces possible prison in connection with his alleged robbery of two memorabilia collectors who he said stole valuables connected with his sports career. Simpson is also charged with kidnapping in the year-old incident at a Las Vegas hotel, where he and several men allegedly barged into the collectors’ room, reportedly held them against their will and seized thousands of dollars in souvenirs. Jury selection in the case is expected to take about a week. Simpson’s co-defendant C.J. Stewart is the only other remaining suspect to face trial in the episode after several others struck pleas and agreed to testify against Simpson. Judge Jackie Glass on Monday rejected a request by Simpson’s lawyers to ask potential jurors if they considered Simpson a murderer, despite his acquittal in the death of his wife and her friend in 1994.