On Monday (July 21) a Las Vegas jury found Andre “Mac Minister” Dow guilty of first-degree murder for his role in the 2005 deaths of Anthony “Fat Tone” Watkins and Jermaine “Cowboy” Akins. Prosecutors accused Mac and Jason Mathis of fueling an ongoing feud between West Coast and Midwest rap artists, which led to the death of Hyphy pioneer Mac Dre.
Mac Minister was best known as a reformed bank robber who made himself a presence in the Bay Area’s Hip Hop scene. His reputation took a dive after he was involved in a brawl with E-40 at the 2000 Source Awards. Minister lived a relatively trouble-free existence for the next couple years, pulling double duty as a rapper and a promoter. In 2006 authorities named Mac Minister as a suspect in the retaliatory murders of Watkins and Akins. An anonymous tip led to his arrest and FBI indictment after being profiled on the show America’s Most Wanted.
During the penalty phase of the proceedings the jury recommended two life sentences without the chance of parole. Mac Minister will be formally sentenced on Sept. 24 by District Judge Stewart Bell.
