Rapper Fat Joe Arraigned in Bar Brawl

NEW YORK (Fat Joe Fans Website) - Rapper Fat Joe has been released without bail following his arraignment on charges that he and several others broke a man's jaw at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square.

The 31-year-old artist, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena , was arraigned late Wednesday on one count of second-degree gang assault in connection with an attack on Steve Garib, 31, of Queens, on May 12. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Debra Kaplan ordered Cartagena to return to court on Sept. 5.

A court complaint alleged that Cartagena was one of "at least six people" who punched and kicked Garib inside the club. "As a result of this attack (Garib) suffered a fractured jaw, multiple bruises, cuts and contusions," the complaint says.

The complaint also says an eyewitness told police "that the defendant was one of the attackers, specifically, that he repeatedly kicked the victim during the attack."

Cartagena turned himself in to police at the Midtown South precinct around 1 p.m. Wednesday. He faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted on the gang assault charge.
Cartagena's lawyer, Philippe Dussek, said he is sure his client will be cleared. He said he has found eyewitnesses "who attest to the fact that my client was nowhere near the incident and they never saw him touch anyone."

Dussek said one of those witnesses is a bouncer at the club who told him, "Joe was not involved at all. He said he never saw Joe lay a hand on the individual at all."
A woman who answered the phone Wednesday at the address Cartagena provided police identified herself as his mother and said she had no comment on the allegations.

In 1998, Cartagena was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault after police said he and rapper Big Pun struck a man with a baseball bat and robbed him of a gold chain. Dussek said that matter was dismissed and the record sealed.