Mac Minister

Case record: Mac Minister

Other details

Mac Minister was an American rapper. His real name was Andre Dow. He was 37 years old.

Mac Minister was described as a Bay Area rapper. He had appeared on albums by West Coast artists including Snoop Dogg and JT the Bigga Figga. The record stated that he had worked with Too Short and Snoop Dogg.

The record stated that he was “recently found guilty for the murder of Kansas City rappers Anthony "Fat-Tone" Watkins and Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins in Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2005.”

The record also stated that Mac Minister had been profiled on an episode of America’s Most Wanted and that authorities alleged he was responsible for the murder of Anthony Fat-Tone Watkins in Las Vegas, Nevada, in retaliation for the murder of Bay Area hip-hop legend Mac Dre.

The offence

The record stated that Mac Minister was connected to the murders of Anthony "Fat-Tone" Watkins and Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins.

The record stated that the killings were connected to May 2005 slayings in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Anthony "Fat-Tone" Watkins was identified as 24 years old.
• Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins was identified as 22 years old.

The record stated that the victims’ bodies were later found riddled with AK-47 bullets at a construction site outside of Las Vegas.

The record stated that MGM Grand security cameras documented Minister leaving the hotel with two men just hours before the slaying.

The record stated that police immediately sought to question him, but the rapper went on the lam, prompting a 10 month manhunt.

The record stated that prosecutors claimed that Dow and an accomplice, 29-year-old Jason Mathis, killed Akins and Watkins as part of a rap war between California rappers and Midwest MCs.

The record stated that prosecutors said Dow lured Watkins and Akins to their deaths with the promise of meeting Snoop to discuss a potential concert-promotion gig.

The record stated that after the trial, one of Dow’s attorneys said that upon reviewing the evidence, they didn’t feel the need to question Snoop in court.

The record stated that the case drew attention because the witness list included Snoop, who could have been called to testify in Dow's defense.

The record stated that Downtown’s attorney described Dow and Watkins as friends who had traveled together to pursue their music careers and were not rivals, but close associates.

The record stated that when the verdict was read, Akins’ mother broke down and cried, saying she was shedding “tears of joy.”

The record stated that Dow’s reaction to the verdict after the weeklong trial was described as being more stoic.

The record stated that after the jurors handed down the sentence, he told them, “God bless you all.”

Investigation

The record stated that authorities painted the murders of Akins and Watkins as retaliation for the November 2004 killing in Kansas City, Missouri, of Mac Dre (né Andre Hicks).

The record identified Mac Dre as an MC from Vallejo, California, and as a convicted bank robber who turned his life around in the 1990s to devote himself to rap.

The record stated that Mac Dre had become the leader of the Bay Area's feel-good Thizz movement.

The record stated that police said that Watkins and Akins were seen leaving their hotel with Dow hours before they were murdered at a construction site outside of Las Vegas.

The record stated that the case was featured prominently on America’s Most Wanted before Mac’s capture on March 2, 2006.

The record stated that police have theorized that Mac killed the two men in retaliation for the murder of Vallejo, California, rapper Andre "Mac Dre" Hicks, who was shot dead in Kansas City in November 2004.

The record stated that according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the District Court jury in Las Vegas found Dow guilty and recommended two life sentences without a chance of parole.

Arrest

The record stated that the FBI received a tip that Mac Minister, who was profiled on “America's Most Wanted” in February, was hiding out in a San Francisco apartment.

The record stated that federal authorities called in local police to help with his capture.

The record stated that a San Francisco S.W.A.T. team arrived on the scene around 6:30 p.m.

The record stated that after some resistance, Mac Minister was detained at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The record stated that he was apprehended by the FBI on the evening of March 2, 2006 while hiding out in a San Francisco apartment, becoming AMW Direct Result Capture #879.

The record stated that in July 2005, police pulled Dow over near the Golden Gate Bridge and he fled the scene.

The record stated that in his abandoned car, police reportedly found a documentary Dow had produced about his life and an article about the murders of Akins and Watkins.

The record stated that he was arrested a month later by the California Highway Patrol, and subsequently released.

The record stated that in November 2005, he was indicted on two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but remained at large.

The record stated that while on the run, a source told MTV News, Dow recorded the intro to the Game's Doctor's Advocate.

Trial

The record stated that Homicide charges were convicted along with his friend Jason “Corleone” Mathis of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

The record stated that the trial lasted less than a week.

The record stated that Dow was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder on Monday, in connection with the May 2005 slayings.

The record stated that Dow was convicted by a District Court jury in Las Vegas.

Sentencing

The record stated that both men received sentences of life without parole.

The record stated that he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 31, 2008.

Timeline

• May 2005 — Anthony "Fat-Tone" Watkins and Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins were killed in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• November 2004 — Mac Dre (né Andre Hicks) was shot dead in Kansas City, Missouri.
• November 2005 — Andre Dow was indicted on two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder but remained at large.
• July 2005 — Police pulled Dow over near the Golden Gate Bridge and he fled the scene.
• March 2, 2006 — Mac Minister was apprehended by the FBI while hiding in a San Francisco apartment.
• February 2006 — Mac Minister was profiled on “America's Most Wanted.”
• July 22, 2008 — The record stated he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, with formal sentencing later referenced.
• July 31, 2008 — He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Outcome

The record stated that Mac Minister was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The record also stated that the bodies of the victims were later found riddled with AK-47 bullets at a construction site outside of Las Vegas.

Other related individuals and facts mentioned

The record stated that Mac Minister had an accomplice: Jason “Corleone” Mathis.

The record stated that Mathis was 29 years old.

The record stated that the record included reference to Lee Danae Laursen:

• Lee Danae Laursen was identified as 21 years old and described as a prostitute.
• The record stated that she was living with Dow and Mathis.
• The record stated that her car was seen leaving the spot where Watkins and Akins were killed.
• The record stated that two days after indictment for the murders, she was found shot in the head.
• The record stated that prosecutors said Dow was also accused of killing a potential witness in the case.