Martin Shkreli ordered to forfeit one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album
A judge has ordered "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli to forfeit $7.36 million to the federal government ahead of his securities fraud sentencing, including assets such as the only existing copy of the Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, NBC New York reports.
Shkreli previously threatened to destroy the $2 million album after Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah called Shkreli a "s---head." Shkreli retaliated by making a video with masked henchmen in which he mocked Ghostface Killah for being "old" and called him by his "government name," Dennis.
In addition to giving up Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, Shkreli was also ordered to surrender the only existing copy of Lil Wayne's unreleased The Carter V. (Musicians: Stop doing this). He also is required to give up a Pablo Picasso painting.
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Shkreli first drew public ire after his pharmaceutical company hiked the price of a cancer and HIV drug by 5,000 percent. He was convicted of defrauding investors during his time as a hedge fund manager in 2017, and while he was shortly free on a $5 million bond he was locked up after offering $5,000 for a lock of Hillary Clinton's hair.
Shkreli's sentencing is expected Friday. Read why Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry believes the Pharma Bro is an American hero who deserves to be freed at The Week.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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