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Attorney says rap star refuses to return to Illinois

The attorney for Chicago rap star Chief Keef said the musician refuses to return to Illinois because he has been receiving death threats.

Lake County Judge Victoria O'Malley forfeited the bond for Keef — whose real name is Keith Cozart — in a brief hearing Friday because the rapper has not appeared in court as directed.

O'Malley also left in place a $50,000 arrest warrant for Cozart, 19, formerly of Highwood. The warrant means Cozart would be returned to Lake County for a court appearance if he is arrested.

Defense attorney Leah Starkman said after the hearing that Cozart refuses to return to Illinois because he has been receiving daily death threats on social media. She added the emerging rap star is currently on tour in Minnesota.

Cozart was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs after his March 6 arrest in Highland Park.

He was released after posting the required 10 percent of his $3,000 bail.

Cozart could be sentenced up to one year in jail if found guilty of misdemeanor DUI, should the case ever go to trial.

Starkman said previously that Cozart was “unfairly targeted” by police in North Shore suburbs because of his notoriety.

A previous judge granted a special bond at a previous hearing that allowed Cozart to fly out of state as needed for work. However, O'Malley said in June that Cozart needs to return to court to settle the case or go to trial.

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