Freddie Trone, the 42-year-old man who orchestrated the robbery and murder of rapper Pnb Rock, has been sentenced to 31 years to life in prison. The sentencing, delivered on Monday, follows Trone’s conviction on August 7 in Los Angeles County Superior Court for murder, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Trone, who acted as his own defense, maintained his innocence, stating, “I never had nothing to do with it. I wasn’t there. I didn’t tell nobody to do nothing. I didn’t hand nobody no gun.” Despite his claims, the jury found him guilty, and his legal team is reportedly planning an appeal, according to the Associated Press.
PnB Rock, legally known as Rakim Allen, was tragically killed in September 2022 at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles. The rapper, known for wearing expensive jewelry, was targeted after his fiancee posted their location on Instagram. Prosecutors argued that this social media post led Trone and another defendant, Tremont Jones, to target Allen for robbery.
Trone’s plan involved sending his 17-year-old son into the restaurant to rob PnB Rock of his jewelry. Armed with a gun and ski mask, the teenager confronted Allen. When PnB Rock resisted, he was shot three times, including twice in the back, before the assailant threatened Allen’s fiancee. Trone’s son, now 19, was also charged with murder as a juvenile but was deemed unfit to stand trial by a judge, according to AP reports.
The emotional impact of PnB Rock’s murder was palpable during the sentencing hearing. Allen’s mother, Deannea, traveled from Philadelphia to deliver a powerful victim impact statement. As reported by Rolling Stone, she expressed her profound grief and disbelief, stating, “As a parent, I do not understand — and I’ve been trying these two whole years — I do not understand how a parent could directly put their child in danger. I just can’t comprehend it. That one action had a ripple effect, and it has ruined many lives.” She further emphasized the void left by her son’s death, saying, “Rakim was the shining light in our family. He was a star to us. … We are devastated.”
The sentencing of Freddie Trone marks a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding the death of PnB Rock, a case that highlights the dangers of targeted robberies and the devastating consequences of violence. While Trone faces a lengthy prison sentence, the pain and loss for PnB Rock’s family and fans remain profound.
