Atlanta Rapper Ca$h Out Found Guilty on Multiple Charges in Sex Trafficking Trial
The high-profile sex trafficking trial of Atlanta rapper Ca$h Out ended with a jury verdict on Friday, delivering a major moment of reckoning for a man once known for chart-topping hits—and now infamous for orchestrating a criminal operation involving sexual abuse and exploitation.
John Michael Gibson, better known as Ca$h Out, was found guilty on multiple charges, including rape, aggravated sodomy, pimping, and two counts of sex trafficking. He was also convicted on RICO (racketeering) charges, which prosecutors used to argue that he ran a criminal enterprise disguised as a music label.
Gibson was acquitted on three other charges, including sexual servitude, aggravated assault, and place of prostitution. But the guilty verdicts mark a disturbing conclusion to what prosecutors described as a multi-year operation designed to exploit and control vulnerable young women.
A Family-Run Trafficking Scheme
Gibson’s mother, Linda Smith, was also found guilty of one count of trafficking. Often referred to in court as “Mama Ca$h,” she allegedly played a central role in helping manage the trafficking operation. She was acquitted on another trafficking charge and a prostitution count but was also convicted on RICO charges.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Taylor, an associate of Gibson’s, was found guilty on all but one charge—pimping. He was convicted of rape, aggravated sodomy, and RICO violations. Prosecutors argued Taylor acted as Gibson’s enforcer, using violence and coercion to force women into prostitution.
All three now face sentencing Monday morning at 10 a.m., where the judge will determine how long they’ll serve for these convictions.
Using a Music Label to Lure Victims
At the heart of the case was Pyrez Music Group LLC, a so-called record label that prosecutors said was used as a front to entice young women with the false promise of modeling, dancing, or music careers. Instead, multiple women testified that they were quickly coerced into sex work.
Some said they initially agreed to work as escorts under Gibson’s control, only to be trapped in violent, manipulative relationships where they weren’t allowed to keep the money they earned. Others gave harrowing testimony that they were raped, then forced into prostitution, with threats of violence or starvation used as control tactics.
One woman testified she was only given food if she brought in money from sex work. Another revealed she was raped by Taylor and Gibson and then pressured into continuing sexual acts for profit.
Recorded Call Helped Seal the Verdict
A crucial piece of evidence was a recorded jail call between Gibson and his mother, in which they discussed a plan to interfere with a victim. Prosecutors played the call in court, highlighting how the two attempted to manipulate the case by meeting with a woman to prevent her from speaking with police.
This wasn’t just a case of bad behavior or mismanagement—it was, as prosecutors described it, a calculated, sustained operation of exploitation, with a powerful rapper using fame, manipulation, and force to control vulnerable women.
A Fall from Fame—and a Wake-Up Call
Ca$h Out rose to fame in the early 2010s with hits like “Cashin’ Out”, but his fall from grace has been sharp and disturbing. His arrest during a 2019 prostitution sting at a Gwinnett County hotel marked the beginning of the investigation that ultimately brought years of abuse to light.
This verdict is more than just justice for the victims—it’s also a reminder that celebrity status does not equal immunity, and that the entertainment industry must continue to confront the dark realities some figures hide behind the glitz and glamor.
As we await sentencing, the spotlight now turns to accountability—and how the justice system responds to one of Atlanta’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent memory.