NEW YORK (BN24) — Rapper Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena has been accused of sex trafficking, fraud, and coercive abuse in a wide-ranging lawsuit filed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York by a longtime former employee.
The 157-page federal complaint, filed on June 19 by attorney Tyrone Blackburn, centers on allegations from Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, who claims to have worked with Cartagena in multiple roles from 2005 to 2020. Dixon’s positions reportedly included lyricist, hype man, creative collaborator, and member of the rapper’s security team.
According to the lawsuit, Dixon alleges that Cartagena and his associates operated a “systematic scheme” involving “coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.” He claims he was forced into “humiliating sexual situations” under surveillance and duress, and subjected to threats of abandonment overseas, job loss, or physical harm if he resisted.
Dixon further contends he contributed vocals, lyrics, and creative direction to tracks like “Congratulations” and “Ice Cream” without credit or compensation. The lawsuit also includes disturbing claims that Cartagena and his associates allegedly trafficked underage girls and that Dixon personally witnessed Cartagena engaging in sexual acts with minors as young as 15 and 16 years old.
Due to the nature of the allegations, the court filing includes a trigger warning citing “highly graphic information of a sexual nature, including sexual assault.”
Dixon is seeking over $2 million in unpaid wages and additional damages. He has also accused Cartagena of cultivating a toxic, exploitative environment throughout their years of collaboration.
In response, Fat Joe’s attorney, Joe Tacopina — known for representing high-profile clients including President Donald Trump — categorically denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “a blatant act of retaliation.” Tacopina noted that Cartagena had already filed a civil suit in April against Dixon and Blackburn, alleging extortion, slander, and defamation.
“The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations,” Tacopina said in a statement to ABC News.
He described Dixon as a “disgruntled former employee” attempting to revive a “false claim from 15 years ago,” and accused Blackburn of “a well-documented pattern of abusing the courts” to attract media attention.
Tacopina added, “Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable.”
Dixon and Blackburn must file a response to Cartagena’s earlier lawsuit by June 23, with a court hearing scheduled for August 1.
In a sharp rebuttal, Blackburn dismissed Tacopina’s characterization and defended the credibility of his client.
“Joe Tacopina is desperate. He thought only of himself when he erroneously advised his client to take this course,” Blackburn said. “Fat Joe knows what he has done. My client does not drink or use drugs. His memory is sharp and he has receipts. We have three additional pages of predicate acts detailing other forms of trafficking.”
Both attorneys have handled notable celebrity legal battles. Tacopina has represented Trump, while Blackburn has advocated for public figures such as rapper T.I. and music producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
As the dueling lawsuits unfold, the case adds another high-profile controversy to the growing list of abuse allegations in the entertainment industry, raising renewed questions about accountability, power dynamics, and artist exploitation.
