NSW Police foil plot to kill OneFour rappers, Brandon Maseuli and another man, 20 charged

A plot to kill the members of rap group OneFour has been foiled by NSW Police, leading to the arrests of two men in widespread raids across Sydney. Now the rap group has responded.

The provocative lyrics of OneFour is one motive being investigated by police after they allegedly foiled an incredible plot to kill all four members of the rap group.

NSW Police allege the plan was so far advanced that Spencer “Spenny” Magalogo, Dahcell “Celly14” Ramos, Pio ‘YP’ Misa, and his brother Jerome “J Emz” Misa were under surveillance from underworld figures, and getaway cars had been put in place across the city - ready to use after the shooting.

Police, who have had a volatile relationship with the rap group, rang one of their mother’s on Thursday morning to let them know they had foiled the alleged plot.

In the hours before that call, police had arrested Brandon Maseuli, 26, and Yousef Rima, 20, during raids by detectives at Cartwright and Sadlier, in Sydney’s west, before charging both with offences including conspiracy to murder.

It is the second time in as many weeks has allegedly stopped a murder plot before it could be carried out - with the head of State Crime Command Michael Fitzgerald issuing a warning to the city’s underworld more arrests are on their way.

Rap group OneFour have broken their silence over an alleged plot to murder them, with Spencer “Spenny14” Magalogo posting a photo of the group with the song Many Men by 50 Cent playing.

“In the coming weeks there will be more arrests where we will allege these crime groups were plotting to commit further murders and kidnappings,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“There has been a concerted effort to invest all State Crime Commands resources from multiple squads into putting attention on certain crime groups and individuals which has led to the uncovering of conspiracies to commit serious crimes.

“No matter how intelligent or sophisticated these crime networks are or think they are, NSW Police have the capability to dismantle and disrupt serious crimes before they are carried out.”

Police allegedly uncovered the plot to murder OneFour as part of Strike Force Tromperie, a 14-month investigation into the Haouchar organised crime network.

It is alleged the Haouchars have for many years been one of the most prominent crime gangs in Sydney, despite their leader Bilal Haouchar controlling things from Lebanon.

As part of the investigation 28 people in NSW have been charged for organised crime related offences and remain before the courts - while Bilal was also detained in Lebanon, where he has been living in exile since 2018.

State Crime Command detectives charged Brandon Maseuli with conspiracy to murder, after arresting him on crutches at a home in Cartwright on Thursday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Yousef Rima, 20, was arrested at Sadlier and charged with murder over the alleged foiled plot to kill OneFour. Picture: Facebook

Head of State Crime Command Michael Fitzgerald. Picture: David Swift

OneFour’s lyrics have in recent years taken aim at a number of rival groups and individuals, including making reference to incidents in Sydney’s ongoing gang war.

Detectives are continuing to investigate if it was such lyrics that led to an organised crime network putting a bounty on their heads.

Police allege that contract was then picked up by Anthony Pele - an associate of the Haouchars who is currently overseas and also wanted for the shooting death of Ahmad Al-Azzam at Greenacre last July - and passed on to Maseuli, who had in recent months allegedly formed his own “crime cell” to take on contract killings, kidnappings and other violent work.

“There are a number of motives that we are looking at in respect to the intended murder of these four males (One Four),” Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, head of the Organised Crime Squad, said.

Sydney rap group OneFour members Spenny, J Emz and Pio 'YP' Misa.

“But we do strongly believe it was another organised crime syndicate that took out the contract to have these four males murdered.

“The 26-year-old (Maseuli) arrested today was (allegedly) a part of the plot, however wasn’t the mastermind - it was other people organising that.”

Maseuli allegedly played a role in organising the plot to murder OneFour while out on bail.

But police also allege he was involved in an attempted kidnapping at Ryde on December 16 last year, that led to officers discovering 722 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a unit.

At the time of that alleged offence Maseuli was out on bail for another kidnapping some months earlier.

“This crime cell (allegedly) exclusively are involved in taking on crime contracts,” Det Supt Faux said.

Two men were arrested in dawn raids across Sydney on Thursday morning. Picture: NSW Police

A plot to kill the OneFour rap group has been foiled.

“They’re obviously allegedly involved in kidnappings, drug importations and now, we are alleging they were involved in conspiring to murder... (but) we’re not saying this cell were doing this murder for their own cause.”

OneFour broke their silence on the alleged foiled murder plot on Instagram, with “Spenny” Magalogo posted a photo of himself with his fellow rappers ‘YP’ Misa, “Celly14”

Strike Force Tromperie was established to investigate an international criminal syndicate hailing from Lebanon. The squad arrested two men on Thursday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Ramos and “J Emz” Misa, with the song “Many Men” by U.S rapper 50 Cent playing over the top.

That song famously features lyrics including: “Many men wish death upon me... I’m tryin’ to be what I’m destined to be, and n***as tryin’ to take my life away”.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000