Yella Beezy murder trial key witness Theodore Thomas claims he lied in grand jury testimony

DALLAS - The trial for Yella Beezy, who is accused of orchestrating a murder for hire plot that killed Dallas rapper MO3, is entering its second week.

Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of paying another man to gun down MO3, whose real name is Melvin Noble, in an ambush on Interstate 35 in Dallas in 2020.

Prosecutors allege Conway hired Kewon White to carry out the murder over a long-running feud.

Conway has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and denied involvement.

White has already been convicted of capital murder for Noble’s death.

A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also charged with capital murder.

Conway's trial is expected to last about two weeks.

Live Updates

5 p.m. Theodore Thomas continues answering questions about truth vs. lies

The prosecution and the defense both asked Theodore Thomas follow-up questions about statements that were allegedly true and statements that were allegedly a lie.

Prosecutor Tommy Adams highlighted that Thomas had earlier alleged Jerry Johnson was financially backing shooter Kewon White because Conway had stopped putting money on his books. Thomas admitted that claim was false, stating he told federal authorities "whatever they wanted" to hear while under threat of a RICO indictment and a potential life sentence. Adams also pointed to contradictions between Thomas's testimony and recent paid interviews given to online street bloggers. Thomas said he wasn't under oath during the paid interviews. 

On redirect, defense attorney Toby Shook emphasized that Thomas fabricated his story to secure entry into the federal STEPS diversion program.

"You learned that they were threatening you with RICO and VICAR and a life sentence, right?" Shook asked.

"Right," Thomas agreed.

"And your only way out was to give them the story?" Shook asked.

"Well, like I told you earlier, that thing I also heard when you said, I think y'all took it out of context of what I said. That wasn't all my debriefing was about. My debriefing was about to let them know I wasn't involved," Thomas said.

Jurors were dismissed for the day after Thomas left the witness stand.

4:20 p.m. Theodore Thomas cross-examined

Defense attorney Toby Shook cross-examined Theodore Thomas, arguing his critical grand jury testimony tying Conway to a murder payout was fabricated under intense federal pressure. Thomas repeatedly agreed with Shook, answering "right" to just about every question. 

Shook said Thomas told investigators "what they wanted to hear" to save himself because he'd been detained for 18 months in federal custody and was facing up to 25 years on drug and firearm charges, plus threatened with RICO and VICAR indictments carrying potential life sentences. Shook also said Thomas lied during a police interview and before a grand jury about overhearing a conversation outside Jerry Johnson's barbershop where Conway was allegedly asked for money over the killing.

Thomas was accepted into the federal STEPS diversion program, securing his release from custody and the dismissal of his federal indictment upon completion. The defense emphasized that happened after Thomas told investigators what they wanted to hear. 

Thomas also described convicted gunman Kewon White as erratic, violent, and desperate for street acceptance rather than acting under orders.

1:30 p.m. Theodore Thomas returns to the witness stand

Theodore Thomas (a.k.a. Jose Bodega) returned to the stand. Last week, when Thomas was called up to testify about the statements he made before the grand jury, he answered all questions with, "I'm going to plead the Fifth to that." 

Prosecutor Tommy Adams confirmed that Thomas was granted immunity for his testimony on Monday. But when asked about his grand jury statements regarding an ongoing feud between Yella Beezy and MO3, Thomas claimed, "I made it up."

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're hearing testimony from Mr. Thomas here. He made statements on an earlier occasion that might be inconsistent with this present testimony here in court. You may consider those earlier statements, but only for the purpose of deciding whether to believe his testimony in this trial and how much worth to give it. You may not consider those earlier statements as evidence that the facts stated in them are true, or as evidence of Mr. Conway's guilt," Judge Chika Anyiam instructed the jury.

She also gave the prosecutor permission to treat the witness as hostile.

The state continued pressing Thomas on grand jury transcripts detailing phone calls he received from convicted gunman Kewon White around the time of the murder and discussions with associate Jerry Johnson. Thomas told jurors that bothered him because, "he never calls me."

The prosecutor asked Thomas if he remembered his grand jury testimony naming Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy as the individuals who wanted MO3 dead. Thomas insisted he lied under oath and fabricated the accusations, claiming he cried during the original proceedings because of his dishonesty. Adams pushed back aggressively, emphasizing that Thomas stood by his claims for over eighteen months, even after federal drug and gun charges against him were dismissed. He didn't recant to his attorney until the Sunday afternoon just ahead of White’s trial. 

Thomas was asked about a meeting in a vehicle outside Johnson's barbershop following the November trip to California. According to the grand jury transcript, Johnson confronted Yella Beezy demanding reimbursement after having to front money to White because Johnson "don’t got it like that." The prosecutor said White was "supposedly" paid $40,000 for the hit, with Thomas previously testifying the money originated from Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy. On the stand, Thomas maintained he lied about the conversation. The judge issued another instruction to jurors, emphasizing that the prior grand jury testimony could only be used to weigh Thomas’s credibility, not as direct proof of Conway's guilt.

Adams targeted Thomas's credibility, revealing the state had offered to resolve pending state charges in exchange for honest testimony before Thomas abruptly recanted. Adams suggested Thomas recanted not out of truthfulness, but because of lifelong loyalty to Conway, introducing photos showing them together in high school, at baby showers, and flying on private jets to Miami.

The state also showed jurors surveillance video showing Thomas and Conway assaulting MO3's manager, Brandon Rainwater.

12 p.m. Det. BK Nelson testifies

Dallas police detective and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Officer BK Nelson told jurors about the coordinated apprehensions of multiple people tied to the case, including convicted gunman Kewon White and Devin Brown. Nelson testified that White was tracked through street intelligence and arrested outside a local barbershop carrying two cellphones, following an initial search of the Ramona Avenue home.

Nelson also recounted tracking defendant Markies Conway, who he identified in court wearing a black turtleneck. Nelson testified federal marshals tailed Conway’s bulletproof GMC Yukon Denali from Frisco into Dallas before Conway made evasive maneuvers on the freeway. He was later arrested without incident at an apartment complex.

Under cross-examination, the defense pressed Nelson on his direct knowledge, establishing that Nelson was in his office monitoring communications rather than driving the pursuit. Nelson admitted Conway was never formally charged with evading arrest and affirmed no high-speed chase occurred.

11 a.m. American Airlines employee testifies

Diala Alrihani, a corporate security and fraud investigator with American Airlines, took the stand to detail flight records connected to the case.

Prosecutors walked Alrihani through travel itineraries for Marquis Conway (Yella Beezy), Theodore Thomas, and Devarius Moore. Records revealed Conway and Thomas flew from DFW to Los Angeles on Nov. 10, 2020, before booking return flights on Nov. 19 to travel back to Dallas on Nov. 20. Another associate, Moore, booked a last-minute flight from DFW to Los Angeles on Nov. 13—just hours before departure—and returned to Dallas on Nov. 21. Alrihani noted that while passengers booked separate reservations, several shared matching booking addresses.

During cross-examination, defense attorneys pushed back against the state’s suggestion that the travel was unusual or suspicious. The defense introduced records showing Conway routinely booked flights just 24 hours in advance—pointing to roughly 17 similar last-minute bookings throughout 2020. Alrihani confirmed Conway was a frequent flyer and that entertainment industry professionals often handle bookings.

10 a.m. Manhattan Jewelers owner testifies

Testimony continued Monday in the murder trial of Dallas rapper Yella Beezy (Markey Conway), centered on custom jewelry orders at Manhattan Jewelers and the "Get Rich Cartel" (GRC).

Karim Ali, owner of jewelry store at The Parks Mall in Arlington, took the stand to detail custom pendants, watches, and medallions manufactured for Conway and associated associates. Prosecutors introduced state exhibits showcasing diamond "GRC" pendants featuring rifle emblems, as well as an invoice reflecting roughly $76,000 in custom work—including diamond bracelets and a watch—ordered directly for Conway, whom Ali identified in court. State records also highlighted transactions under the name "Banzzo Bling" (a name convicted gunman Kewon White used) and a contact named "Jerry," including receipts from late November 2020 for custom jewelry pieces.

On cross-examination, the defense focused on Nov. 22, 2020, surveillance video and still photos showing White paying with rubber-banded stacks of cash. The defense pressed Ali on the packaging of the bills, pointing out distinct patterns of three black, one red, and outer beige rubber bands. Defense counsel compared these store images to separate evidentiary photos, establishing that large cash payments and wrapped bundles were standard practice for entertainer clientele.

9 a.m. Trial resumes

FOX 4 will have live coverage of the trial each day after testimony begins around 9 a.m.

Friday's Recap

Friday morning began with Theodore Thomas (also known as Jose Bodega), a childhood friend of Conway (Yella Beezy), returning to court. After invoking his Fifth Amendment rights the previous day, Thomas did not take the stand. Prosecutors labeled the situation "very fluid," requested Thomas’ attorney be sworn in as a witness, and asked both to return on Wednesday.

Joseph Catania, a director with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, next testified about tracking serial numbers on two evidentiary $100 bills linked to shipments in Florida and Dallas. Catania acknowledged the Federal Reserve cannot monitor recirculated cash once spent. The defense noted the District Attorney’s Office only reached out to the Federal Reserve in April 2025 and pointed out non-standard colored rubber bands on the cash bundles.

Timothy Glenn, head of security at the Mondrian hotel in West Hollywood, followed with testimony regarding Conway’s November 2020 stay. While the state initially suggested a 26-night booking, the defense showed the trip was originally booked for just three nights and extended incrementally.

Mount Pleasant Police Department Narcotics Sgt. Juan Hernandez detailed a November 23, 2020, high-speed traffic stop of convicted gunman Kewon White. A subsequent vehicle search yielded $9,670 in bundled cash, marijuana, THC edibles, promethazine syrup, a fake grenade, and three loaded firearms, including an AK-47 style rifle and a Glock handgun.

Lt. Travis Nichols later testified regarding White’s recorded Titus County jail calls and seized physical property, emphasizing that carrying over 300 $5 bills was remarkably rare in his career. Additional testimony covered jail call recording protocols and cellphone data extraction before jurors were dismissed early for the weekend.

MO3 Murder

The backstory:

MO3 was shot 11 times and killed on I-35 back in 2020. Prosecutors allege the shooting was part of a murder-for-hire plot organized by rapper Yella Beezy, whose legal name is Markies Conway. They claim he paid Kewon White to carry out the murder over a long-running feud. 

In September, jurors found White guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to life in prison after viewing video and hearing testimony about the shooting. Prosecutors also presented evidence of an alleged payment from Conway to White.

Conway has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and denied involvement. His trial was delayed by a month so that his lawyers could get a copy of White’s trial transcript.

A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also charged with capital murder.

Continued Coverage

• Day 4: Yella Beezy murder trial key witness doesn't testify, ordered to return on Wednesday
• Day 3: Yella Beezy murder trial continues on Day 3 with testimony from informant Jose Bodega
• Day 2: Yella Beezy murder trial testimony on Day 2 focuses on crime scene evidence, surveillance photos
• Day 1: Yella Beezy on trial for Dallas rapper MO3's murder
• Jury seated in Dallas rapper Yella Beezy’s capital murder trial
• Kewon White’s lawyers seeking a new trial over sleepy juror
• Kewon White files appeal in MO3 murder conviction
• Kewon White found guilty, sentenced to life in prison for MO3's murder

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