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Alicia Andrews, a 23-year-old, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for her involvement in the planned attack on rapper Julio Foolio in Tampa, marking the conclusion of legal proceedings for those charged in the ambush.
In Jacksonville, Florida, Andrews was deemed guilty of manslaughter on October 31, a lesser charge than the original accusation of first-degree murder. While she was cleared of conspiracy to commit murder, Andrews testified that her participation was coerced by fear of her boyfriend, Isaiah Jermaine Chance. She claimed to be unaware of any murderous intent, believing they were merely out to get food, and maintained that she remained in the car, oblivious to the unfolding events.
However, prosecutors painted a different picture, arguing that Andrews played an active role in the incident. They accused her of acting as a lookout, aiding the crew in tracking Foolio—whose birth name is Charles Andrew Jones II—during his 26th birthday celebration. The ambush resulted in Foolio being shot and killed outside a hotel near the University of South Florida, with three others from his group sustaining injuries.
She told the court she thought they were going to get food and that she stayed in the car unaware of what was happening.
Prosecutors said otherwise. They said she acted as a lookout, helping the crew track Foolio ― whose real name was Charles Andrew Jones II ― during his 26th birthday celebration before he was shot and killed outside a hotel near the University of South Florida. Three others in his entourage were wounded.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing, May 22, the judge heard from Foolio’s mother, Sandrikas Mays.
“My son was hunted, followed and ultimately murdered in what authorities described as a coordinated plot involving multiple individuals,” she said, according to Court TV. “It is extremely painful to hear Alicia Andrews portray herself as someone who didn’t know what was going on. They could have turned around, but they still carried on the plan to hunt my son down like a deer in the woods. … My son’s life mattered. He was not disposable.”
Foolio was a popular, controversial rapper affiliated with the 6 Block gang and also linked with KTA. He often rapped about being shot or friends who were murdered and fallen rivals. The defendants were with ATK and 1200.
Their ongoing feud climaxed when the group tracked his social media posts about where and when he would be performing and celebrating that weekend, authorities said. They followed him to his hotel where he and his group were met with gunfire.
Gathright and the Murphys were deemed the shooters. Court records and security and dashcam videos at the scene indicate Chance and Andrews were serving as lookouts. Cellphone and license plate reader evidence also documented the group’s communications and whereabouts.
Editor’s note: This story was first published by our news partners, The Florida Times-Union.