Rapper Fat Joe Faces $20 Million Lawsuit Over Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

A federal lawsuit filed June 20, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York names Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena as the defendant, alongside several associates and Roc Nation. The plaintiff, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon—who worked as Fat Joe’s hype man from 2006 to 2019—seeks $20 million in damages. The complaint includes multiple serious accusations:

• Sexual abuse and trafficking claims: Dixon alleges that he was coerced into performing more than 4,000 sexual acts over 16 years. He further claims to have witnessed Fat Joe engaging in sexual acts with at least three individuals identified as minors, aged 15 or 16, in exchange for money, goods, or medical procedures.

• Labor and financial exploitation: Dixon asserts he was denied appropriate credit and compensation for his contributions to select tracks, alleging systematic wage theft, authorship suppression, and interference with royalty payments ew.com.

• Psychological and professional coercion: The filing describes a pattern of intimidation tactics allegedly used to enforce compliance, including threats of abandonment abroad, career sabotage, and emotional manipulation.

• Involvement of associates and agencies: The lawsuit lists other figures connected to Fat Joe—such as Peter “Pistol Pete” Torres, Richard “Rich Player” Jospitre, Fat Joe’s former attorney, and Roc Nation—for allegedly facilitating or concealing the misconduct.

Rapper’s response: Fat Joe has denied all allegations. His legal team characterizes the lawsuit as an attempt at extortion and defamation tied to a separate suit filed previously by Cartagena against Dixon. They also indicate that law enforcement is aware of the accusations .

Legal status: The case marks a civil proceeding seeking significant damages. It follows Fat Joe’s earlier defamation lawsuit in April, and both matters are expected to be addressed in court.

Bottom Line:
Fat Joe is confronting a federal lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging coerced sexual acts, including with minors, and financial exploitation. He refutes all claims and asserts that his accuser is attempting to extort him. Both sides are engaging through legal channels, and the matter is now before the courts.

Source: multiple news outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, The Cut, People, and IndiaTimes