Boxing icon Floyd Mayweather and rapper Tyga have been named in a $ 4 million RICO lawsuit that has been filed by a Miami jeweller, according to the Miami New Times.
In this lawsuit, the jeweller – Leonard Sulaymanov, the owner of Lenzo & Co. – accused the two celebrities of owing the desired amount for diamond jewellery and luxury watches that they purchased back in 2021.
The suit, filed in Miami federal court, alleges that they violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.
Claims of fraud, civil conspiracy, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and civil theft have also been filed.
Sulaymanov claims he sold Mayweather a yellow-gold Audemars Piguet watch, two Richard Mille watches, a Patek Philippe watch, a rose-gold Rolex Presidential Day Date, a diamond ring, and a diamond necklace.
The defendant claims that he only received $267,000 in the form of two down payments before Mayweather left Miami.
As for Tyga, the suit claims that the ‘Rack City’ rapper failed to pay for a Rolex watch.
Mayweather and his posse, ‘The Money Team’, have been accused of engaging in ‘predatory, unfair, improper, fraudulent, and unscrupulous practices’ to exploit Sulaymanov’s reputation and inventory, systematically stealing and converting the watches and jewellery without paying the agreed-upon prices.
Documents claim that Sulaymanov met with Mayweather and members of TMT in 2021 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel
Despite alleged demands from TMT that Sulaymanov’s phone be confiscated, the jeweller claims he was able to discreetly document the transaction by using another phone, capturing images of the purchased items and cash payments.
‘Mayweather was seen wearing the diamond necklace and ring while riding in his TMT van after leaving Miami. He also recently posted a photo wearing the necklace alongside his agent,’ the lawsuit notes.
Sulaymanov travelled to Las Vegas two weeks later – at the request of Mayweather’s agent, Jona Rechnitz – to meet with the boxer and the rapper.
The jeweller claims that the boxer bought more items from him – including ten Rolex Presidential Anniversary watches, a Rolex Day-Date 40, and another Richard Mille watch.
At the meeting, Tyga allegedly agreed to pay $79,000 for the Day-Date.
Mayweather is accused of making further purchases without settling his existing balance, misleading Sulaymanov into thinking that they would continue a profitable business relationship.
Time passed and the jeweller did not receive any expected payments. Sulaymanov says he exchanged messages with Rechnitz, who allegedly confirmed that the boxer owed $1.8million for the watches.
Despite being assured that the payments would come, Sulaymanov says he never received the promised funds.
In addition to the $1.8m for the watches, the lawsuit asserts that Mayweather owes $2m for the diamond ring and necklace.
Mayweather recently took part in a controversial exhibition fight against John Gotti III – in which it appeared that he ‘fired’ the referee in the middle of the bout.
