Young Dolph Murder Suspect Faces 12 Years After Pleading Guilty

One of Young Dolph’s murder suspects has confessed to aiding and abetting his brother who allegedly fired the fatal shots at the Memphis rapper in November 2021.

Per ABC 13, Jemarcus Johnson, 26 — who was accused of helping his brother Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith evade police capture after Young Dolph’s murder — pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder on Friday (June 9.

He also admitted to taking possession of his brother’s cell phone and car so authorities would not think Justin was in Memphis.

“Conspiracy is a wide range of things,” Shelby County prosecutor Paul Hagerman said in court on Friday. “They include people that were acting in the conspiracy before the murder happened. But also the people that were acting afterward. The charges that have been filed now against Jemarcus make it clear that he did things afterwards.”

It’s possible Jemarcus may be called to testify against his brother and the other two accused suspects. He faces between six and 12 years in prison for his role in Dolph’s murder, who was shot and killed while visiting a bakery in his hometown.

Jemarcus Johnson’s guilty plea comes after it was revealed his brother Justin was caught with drugs and a cell phone in jail earlier this month while held in the Shelby County Jail.

John Morris, a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed to local outlet WREG that Justin was caught with the illegal contraband in his cell, but wouldn’t disclose any more details. The matter is currently being investigated.

Johnson previously had cell phone privileges revoked last year after he released a song from jail called “No Statements,” on which he addressed the murder of Dolph. The video was recorded on a cell phone.

These updates come shortly after Hernandez Goven — the alleged mastermind behind Young Dolph’s death — was released on a $90,000 bond last month.

The judge presiding over his case, however, made clear that Govan’s bond was contingent upon his compliance with house arrest. The suspect is only allowed to leave his house for medical emergencies or to meet with his attorney.

What’s most notable is that Young Dolph’s family reportedly gave approval for Govan to be released on bond to the Shelby County District Attorney, Steve Mulroy.

Govan stands accused of dispatching Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith Jr. to gun down the Paper Route Empire rapper in broad daylight on November 17, 2021. Another suspect, Shundale Barnett, was freed from the Ft. Worth, Texas jail where he was being held on an undisclosed charge back in January.

Barnett, who was charged as an accessory after the fact, was captured with Johnson, the primary suspect in the case.

Meanwhile, Young Dolph’s first posthumous album Paper Route Frank was released in December 2022. The project consisted of 13 tracks with features from 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Key Glock, Big Moochie Grape and Snupe Bandz.