Posted by In a significant development during the ongoing murder-for-hire trial of Yella Beezy, a childhood friend of the rapper took the stand and admitted that he provided false information during his grand jury testimony in February 2025. The testimony, which was instrumental in the rapper’s initial indictment, was recanted by Theodore Thomas, also known as Jose Bodega, during Day 4 of the proceedings.
Thomas, who had previously invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, appeared as a hostile witness under an immunity agreement. When questioned about his prior claims regarding the rapper’s alleged involvement in the murder of Mo3, Thomas was blunt about his motivations. “I told you I lied already, so asking me questions from a paper, it’s like you making me re-lie,” he stated during his testimony.
The Pressure of Federal Prosecution
The defense team highlighted that Thomas’s initial statements were made under the duress of potential federal charges. During redirect, attorneys questioned Thomas about whether he had been threatened with RICO and VICAR charges, as well as a potential life sentence. Thomas confirmed that he had fabricated details in an attempt to gain entry into the federal STEPS diversion program.
Thomas further clarified that his previous assertions regarding a $40,000 payment for the hit—allegedly orchestrated by Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddie—were entirely false. He also retracted his earlier claims describing a deep-seated feud between the two artists, admitting, “I just said I made it up.”
Contextualizing the Testimony
While the prosecution suggested that Thomas’s recantation was motivated by lifelong loyalty to the defendant, Thomas maintained that his earlier testimony was a product of fear. He described the convicted gunman, Kewon White, as an unpredictable individual who acted independently of the Get Rich Cartel (GRC) crew. Thomas insisted he had no prior knowledge of the fatal attack on Mo3 that occurred on November 11, 2020.
The presiding judge has instructed the jury that the previous grand jury transcripts should only be used to evaluate Thomas’s credibility rather than as direct evidence of guilt. As the trial continues in Dallas, the focus remains on the reliability of the evidence presented against the rapper.
Check out Theodore Thomas’ (aka Jose Bodega) full testimony in Yella Beezy’s murder-for-hire trial below.