Fat Joe sued for $20M over alleged abuse and trafficking by former hypeman

Grammy-nominated rapper Fat Joe is facing a $20 million federal lawsuit filed by his former hypeman, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, alleging years of sexual abuse, coercion, and exploitation—including alleged involvement with underage girls.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the 157-page complaint accuses Fat Joe, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, of “coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, and psychological control.”

Dixon claims he was forced into over 4,000 sexual acts over a 16-year period under threats of abandonment, humiliation, and financial retaliation.

The lawsuit further alleges Fat Joe engaged in sexual acts with minors as young as 15, flying them across state and international lines, and even funding plastic surgery for one girl. Dixon claims these abuses occurred with the knowledge of Fat Joe’s associates and sometimes under surveillance or in corporate-owned properties, including yachts and mansions.

Also named in the suit are Fat Joe’s associates Pete “Pistol Pete” Torres and Richard “Rich Player” Jospitre, along with Roc Nation, which Dixon accuses of aiding in concealing royalty fraud and silencing his claims. The charges include violations under civil RICO, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and various state laws.

Fat Joe’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, dismissed the lawsuit as a “blatant act of retaliation,” claiming Dixon is attempting to deflect attention from a separate defamation lawsuit the rapper filed in April.

Represented by attorney Tyrone Blackburn—also leading a high-profile case against Sean “Diddy” Combs—Dixon insists he’s seeking justice after years of abuse and suppression.

This case could be one of the most serious and high-profile legal battles in the music industry to date.