Damon Dash Faces Jail Time for Hiding Assets from Creditors

Manhattan, NY — Damon Dash, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records and former partner of Jay-Z, may face jail time for allegedly attempting to evade $1 million in judgments owed to creditors. Dash is accused of hiding assets, destroying evidence, and refusing to comply with court orders.

This legal battle stems from a defamation suit brought against Dash by filmmaker Josh Webber. In 2022, Dash was found guilty, but he has allegedly stalled efforts to reveal his assets as required by the court. Judge Robert Lehrburger warned Dash that failure to comply with court orders could lead to contempt charges and an arrest warrant.

“If Defendants fail to comply, the Court will find Defendants in contempt and may issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Dash,” Lehrburger wrote in his Monday ruling.

Dash is also facing a nearly $100,000 judgment against him from author Edwyna Brooks, who claims Dash has been concealing his wealth through complex corporate transfers. Federal Judge Jed Radkoff, who also handled Brooks’ case, noted that Dash had destroyed “highly relevant” evidence.

“There is no meaningful way to cure this prejudice short of awarding default judgment,” Radkoff stated. Dash’s attorney, Natraj S. Bhushan, has sought permission to withdraw from representing him due to Dash’s lack of cooperation.

Brown, attorney for both Brooks and Webber, claims Dash insists he owns nothing, even questioning the ownership of his flashy jewelry. “He’s saying: ‘I don’t know whose necklace this is around my neck,’” Brown said. “It’s hard to believe he doesn’t know.”

Additionally, Dash has hinted at an intention to file for bankruptcy to avoid fulfilling his obligations, but Brown asserts that bankruptcy laws will not protect him from these debts related to intentional torts.

Damon Dash and Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994, producing hits like “Hard Knock Life” and “99 Problems.” However, their relationship deteriorated over financial disputes, including Dash’s alleged tax liabilities that have reached $8.7 million.

Representatives for Dash did not respond to requests for comment.