The FBI tweeted that it did not seize the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album during Martin "Pharma Bro" Shkreli's arrest yesterday, reported Billboard. Shkreli, the Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO who became a villain when he raised the price of an AIDS drug from $13.50 a pill to $750, was arrested Thursday morning on fraud charges.
Shkreli, 32, was the proud, sole owner of the Wu-Tang Clan album "Once Upon A Time In Shaolin," as previously reported by HNGN. Only one copy of the album exists in the world, which was released by the Staten Island, N.Y.-based rap group as an artistic, collector's item. Shkreli recently purchased the album for a reported $2 million.
"We're not aware of how he raised the funds to buy the Wu-Tang album," U.S. Attorney Robert Capers told the Chicago Tribune.
Shkreli was arrested on securities fraud and conspiracy, stemming from his time as a hedge fund manager, when he allegedly siphoned more than $10 million from his former company Retrophin (of which he was CEO) to pay off debts, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was released on $5 million bail after pleading not guilty. If charged, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Curious Wu-Tang Clan fans wondered if the FBI seized assets at the time of Shkreli's arrest, which would mean the feds may have obtained the copy of "Once Upon A Time In Shaolin." The FBI was forced to reply after it was flooded with messages on Twitter.
"#Breaking no seizure warrant at the arrest of Martin Shkreli today, which means we didn't seize the Wu-Tang Clan album," tweeted the FBI.
#Breaking no seizure warrant at the arrest of Martin Shkreli today, which means we didn't seize the Wu-Tang Clan album.
— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) December 17, 2015
