Theodore Thomas, a close childhood friend of Dallas rapper Yella Beezy, took the witness stand in a Dallas, Texas, courtroom on Thursday, October 29, and repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions in the rapper’s murder-for-hire trial.
The Trial Timeline and Silence on the Stand
- Theodore Thomas, performing under the rap moniker Jose Bodega, answered every question posed by prosecutors with the phrase, “I’m going to plead the Fifth to that.”
- Prosecutors questioned Thomas regarding a 140-page grand jury transcript where he had previously answered inquiries about an ongoing rap feud.
- Judge Chika Anyiam excused Thomas after he refused to answer further questions and ordered him to return to court on Friday, October 30.
Grand Jury Transcripts Meet the Fifth Amendment
Prosecutors stated that Thomas had previously testified before the grand jury that indicted Yella Beezy—born Markies Conway—for allegedly hiring Kewon White to carry out the killing of Melvin Noble, known professionally as Mo3. Noble was killed in an ambush on Interstate 35 in Dallas in November 2020. White was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in September.
State of TX v. @YellaBeezy214:2:00 PM: The male member of Yella Beezy’s family surveys the media in the room and says to Yella Beezy’s grandmother, “They gonna have a lot to talk about now.”2:02 PM: Jose Bodega’s attorney takes a seat in the front row of the defense-side of… pic.twitter.com/E0su9G6PXd
During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecutors confronted Thomas with a 140-page transcript from the grand jury sessions. On the stand, however, Thomas drew a hard line. He refused to answer questions regarding Beezy’s rap crew, the Get Rich Cartel (GRC), an ongoing rap feud between Beezy and rapper Trapboy Freddy, or his California locations with Beezy around November 2020 when Mo3 was killed.
Defense Inquiries and Judicial Intervention
When the defense cross-examined Thomas and asked whether he intended to recant any of his past statements from the grand jury, he responded with the same invocation of his constitutional rights, stating he would plead the Fifth.
Recognizing that Thomas would offer no further testimony, Judge Chika Anyiam stepped in to excuse him from the stand. The judge warned Thomas that he could be recalled later in the proceedings and instructed him to return to the courtroom on Friday, October 30.
Musical Background of Jose Bodega
Thomas, who records under the rap name Jose Bodega—a moniker inspired by New York City corner stores—released his debut album, Mr. Bodega, in 2020, followed by his second project, Defamation of Character, in 2022. Over the course of his career, Thomas has collaborated on musical tracks with both Beezy and Trapboy Freddy.
| Case Detail | Fact / Status |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Markies Conway (Yella Beezy) |
| Target / Victim | Melvin Noble (Mo3) |
| Incident Date & Location | November 2020, Interstate 35, Dallas, TX |
| Co-Defendant Status | Kewon White convicted and sentenced to life in September |
| Witness on Stand | Theodore Thomas (Jose Bodega) |
| Presiding Judge | Judge Chika Anyiam |
The trial, which centers on allegations that Beezy orchestrated the ambush on Interstate 35, is expected to last approximately two weeks.
