Cash withdrawals and cell data center Yella Beezy murder trial
FBI agents presented evidence linking Markies Conway to the 2020 killing of rapper MO3, while defense attorneys questioned the strength of witness testimony.
By Amit Chukwu ·
The second week of the capital murder trial for rapper Markies Conway began in Dallas federal court on Tuesday morning. Conway, who performs as Yella Beezy, faces charges related to the 2020 shooting death of Melvin Noble, known as MO3, on Interstate 35.
The legal process began with the 2020 ambush on I-35, where Noble was shot 11 times. Prosecutors allege that Conway hired Kewon White to execute the plan due to a long-standing feud. White was found guilty of capital murder in September and received a life sentence. Conway has pleaded not guilty, and his trial was postponed for one month to allow his legal team to review the transcript from White's proceedings.
Testimony on Tuesday focused on the digital and financial trail following the shooting. FBI Special Agent Taylor Page presented cellphone tower data that placed co-defendant Kewon White at the scene just before he fled. The records also showed a sharp increase in calls between White and the third charged defendant, Devin Brown, immediately after the attack. Page noted that no direct phone calls were captured between Conway and either White or Brown during the relevant period.
Financial records introduced into evidence showed Conway withdrawing $40,000 in cash from a bank in Frisco after the murder. Phone tracking data suggested that Jerry Johnson, a co-defendant, acted as an intermediary, with his device moving between Conway's location and the other suspects.
Defense attorneys challenged the credibility of earlier witnesses during cross-examination. They pointed out that Dallas Police Officer Nicholas Brooks, who provided off-duty security for Conway, was actually a close friend who had invited the rapper to his wedding. Brooks testified that he texted Conway after the freeway shooting to verify his involvement because of their public internet disputes.
The court also heard about a separate 2018 drive-by shooting that left Conway with multiple gunshot wounds. Lewisville Police Officer Sean Doherty stated that case remains unsolved because Conway refused to press charges. Conway told detectives that working with police would hurt his public image as a rap artist.
The trial is expected to conclude in approximately one week. Jurors will hear further testimony and witness accounts in the coming days. Conway faces potential life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
