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A federal judge has agreed to put on hold the release plan for Karl Jordan Jr., who was convicted and later cleared in the killing of Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC, as federal prosecutors pursue an appeal to stop his release on $1 million bond. The decision came after Jordan had been positioned to go free on Friday, when the government appealed a judge’s ruling granting bond with electronic monitoring.
According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors filed the appeal after the bond decision and the judge agreed to pause the release order while the appeal is considered. A message seeking comment was sent to Jordan’s attorneys, and prosecutors declined to comment.
The renewed detention would keep Jordan behind bars for now, even though a judge had previously overturned his conviction and acquitted him. The AP said that ruling came in December, when the judge acquitted Jordan while upholding the verdict against Ronald Washington, who was convicted alongside him in 2024.
Prosecutors argued that Jordan should remain in jail while they appeal the acquittal and as he awaits trial on unrelated drug charges. The AP reported that Jordan has pleaded not guilty to those pending drug charges.
Jordan’s attorneys argued that the 42-year-old should be allowed to be released on bond. They also said a roster of loved ones agreed to co-sign the bond and to put up properties totaling everything they have, according to the AP report.
The case centers on the 2020s-era criminal proceedings related to the 2000s killing of the Run-DMC turntable ace in his recording studio. Jam Master Jay was born Jason Mizell, and Run-DMC members helped launch rap into music’s mainstream with 1980s hits including “It’s Tricky” and a remake of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”