$1.44 Million in Bank Records

Bank records showing $1.44 million in revenue entered evidence in the capital murder trial of Markies Conway, also known as Yella Beezy. Prosecutors are using these financial documents to support their theory that Conway paid a hitman to kill rapper Melvin Noble, known as MO3, in a 2020 ambush on Interstate 35 in Dallas.

Conway, who has pleaded not guilty, is in the second week of his trial. The court heard testimony on Wednesday from three witnesses. Cedric Bradley, a childhood friend of Conway who is currently a federal inmate, said he knew about a rap dispute involving money and drugs between Conway, Noble, and another artist named Trapboy Freddy. Bradley stated that Kewon White, who has already been convicted of capital murder, confessed to shooting Noble from a vehicle and later shooting him in the back while pursuing him on foot. Bradley added that White was angry because he had not received the promised payment.

Defense attorneys challenged Bradley's credibility by pointing to his guilty plea on federal drug and machine gun charges. They also noted a pending probation revocation that could lead to life in prison and his desire to return to his daughter. The defense further highlighted that Bradley denied knowledge of the homicide during a 2024 meeting with prosecutors. Prosecutors countered that Bradley signed his federal plea agreement before meeting state officials and that he learned the shooting details directly from White rather than from autopsy files.

Forensic financial analyst Deanna Davenport then testified about Conway’s 2020 Chase bank accounts. She pointed out $1.44 million in revenue alongside large cash withdrawals. Prosecutors focused on two $40,000 cash withdrawals from a Frisco branch. They emphasized one withdrawal made nine days after the homicide, noting it lacked a corresponding deposit or a usual pattern of revenue. The defense argued that Conway’s legitimate entertainment earnings explained the expenditures as personal expenses.

Lead detective Eric Barnes began his testimony by formally identifying Conway in the courtroom. Barnes described the difficulty of investigating retaliatory disputes in the rap community. He explained how his team cleared Noble’s bodyguard and identified Devin Brown as a prime suspect after interviewing Noble’s girlfriend and her mother. Brown is a third defendant charged with capital murder. Barnes is scheduled to return to the stand Thursday morning.

Noble was shot 11 times during the November 11, 2020, attack. In September, a jury found White guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to life in prison. The trial for Conway was delayed by one month to allow his lawyers to review the transcript from White’s trial. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.