Linda Smith, the mother and longtime manager of Atlanta rapper Ca$h Out, has been convicted in a sweeping RICO sex trafficking case that rocked Georgia’s entertainment industry.
The 52-year-old was found guilty of one count of human trafficking, a conviction that prosecutors say reveals the depth of her role in an organized criminal enterprise tied to her son’s music label.
Smith, who had managed her son’s career under the Pyrex Music Group banner, was acquitted on charges of prostitution and a second trafficking count, but was still named as a key co-conspirator in a complex scheme that used the lure of fame to allegedly exploit young women.
Her son, John-Michael Hakim Gibson, better known as Ca$h Out, was convicted of rape, pimping, aggravated sodomy, and multiple counts of sex trafficking, along with violations under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Smith was also found guilty under the same RICO statute, which prosecutors used to tie her to the broader operation.
Prosecutors: Smith Helped Facilitate Sex Trafficking Ring
Prosecutors alleged that Smith’s role was instrumental in maintaining the logistics of the trafficking operation.
While she was not accused of physical coercion or direct violence, evidence presented during the six-week trial suggested she was involved in the recruitment and management of victims under the guise of promoting their careers in music and entertainment.
“She was not merely a bystander or passive manager,” one prosecutor told the court. “She was actively participating in an organized system that profited off the exploitation of women.”
During the trial, multiple victims testified that they were promised recording opportunities, travel, and fame.
Instead, they said they were coerced into sex work, subjected to financial manipulation, and pressured to hand over their earnings to Ca$h Out and his team.
A Family Tied to Criminal Enterprise
Legal analysts say the conviction of a mother alongside her son in a sex trafficking RICO case is rare — and signals just how far prosecutors are willing to go to dismantle exploitative networks operating under legitimate fronts like the music industry.
Linda Smith’s defense argued she had no knowledge of the coercive activities and believed she was simply managing her son’s business. The jury disagreed, finding that her actions constituted knowing participation in the larger enterprise.
A third co-defendant, Tyrone Taylor, was found guilty on all but one charge, including rape and aggravated sodomy. All three were acquitted on some counts, but each was convicted under the RICO statute.
Sentencing and Broader Implications
All three now await sentencing. Georgia’s RICO law carry substantial penalties.
Legal experts note that Georgia’s version of RICO is broader than the federal statute and has increasingly been used in cases involving gangs, celebrities, and now, family-led criminal operations.
