LATEST: Rapper FABOLOUS has vehemently denied he's connected to a string of robberies on high profile sports stars, which culminated in the knife murder of his friend in a New York nightclub.

Investigators have implicated several members of the star's Street Family in the robbery of former American football star Frank Walker, boxing champion Zab Judah, who the gang allegedly targeted twice, and National Basketball Association player Sebastian Telfair.

Officials believe the gang responsible for the thefts has about 20 members, all of whom are former drug dealers from Brookyln - the area where the rapper grew up.
New York police believe rapper Fabolous' friend Shamel McKinney was stabbed to death trying to rob a man in a nightclub last month (Nov07).

However, Fabolous, 30 - real name John Jackson - has refuted claims he is involved with criminals.
He tells AllHipHop.com, "I would like my fans and supporters worldwide to know how disappointed I am in some of the media for the misrepresentation and abuse of my name.

"I do not want the young people who listen to my music and watch my videos to believe that I am engaged in any illegal activities that would discredit my character."