Harlem Rapper Max B Released After 16 Years in Prison

Harlem rapper Max B, whose real name is Charly Wingate, walked free from Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey, on November 9 after serving approximately 16 years of a reduced sentence for his involvement in a deadly 2006 robbery.

The 47-year-old artist, known for his melodic style and the catchphrase "wavy," had been incarcerated since 2009, when a New Jersey jury convicted him on multiple counts including murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, and kidnapping. The charges stemmed from a botched robbery at a Teaneck hotel that resulted in the fatal shooting of victim David Taylor. Although Wingate was already in custody on unrelated charges at the time and not physically present during the incident, prosecutors accused him of orchestrating the crime from behind bars. He was initially sentenced to 75 years in prison.

His legal fortunes changed in 2016, when a New Jersey Superior Court judge vacated the conviction, citing a conflict of interest with one of his original attorneys and ineffective assistance of counsel. Wingate then entered a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated manslaughter. The agreement reduced his sentence to 20 years, with credit for time...