Gun Charges Against Banks & Buck Dropped, 50 Cent's A 'Hero'

Prosecutors dropped felony gun possession charges against G-Unit rappers Lloyd Banks and Young Buck yesterday (Nov. 8). The charges stem from an incident in August 2005, after a stop during the Anger Management 3 tour at Madison Square Garden in New York. A van transporting the rappers and 11 other people allegedly ran a red light near the venue. When police pulled the van, officers discovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun and a .357 magnum. Banks, Young Buck and each passenger in the van was subsequently arrested and charged with weapons offenses. Prosecutors determined that neither of the rappers were in possession of the guns. One suspect has already pleaded guilty in the case, while another remains under indictment. In related news, G-Unit front man 50 Cent will be honored by The Book Bank Foundation (BBF) at the annual Book Bank Foundation Hero Awards in New York. Slated for Dec. 12, the BBF's Hero Awards honors the best in film, entertainment, sports and business, to benefit the national youth homeless advocacy and literacy work of the BBF. 50 Cent is being honored for his charitable contributions through his non-profit organization, The G-Unity Foundation. Actress Rosario Dawson, Ed Lover, Asante Samuel (New England Patriots) and James Macklin of the Bowery Mission will also be honored