Yonette Respass, known as Star Brim, is a Brooklyn woman whom federal prosecutors identified as the “Godmother” of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods street gang. She was charged in a February 2020 federal racketeering sweep, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to ordering a slashing, and was sentenced in March 2024 to one year and one day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.1Yahoo Entertainment. Cardi B Bestie Star Brim Sentenced She was released from custody on June 19, 2025.2HotNewHiphop. Star Brim Post-Release News
Who She Is and Her Rank in the Gang
Respass grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and has said she joined the Bloods at age 12 after a difficult home life and repeated confrontations with local Crips members.3The Source. Star Brim Charged She rose through the 5-9 Brims and eventually succeeded a woman named Jerlaine Little, known as “Noni,” as the set’s Godmother.4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup
Prosecutors described the title as a real position of authority. The 5-9 Brims maintain two parallel leadership structures, one for incarcerated members and one for those on the street, each headed by a “Godfather.” The Godmother was the highest rank available to a female member, and all women in the gang who did not report to another specific official were required to report directly to her.4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup
The Conduct Behind the Charges
The core allegation against Respass concerned an August 15, 2018 attack at Angels, a strip club in Flushing, Queens. Prosecutors said she ordered gang members to assault two bartending sisters, Rachel and Sarah Wattley, because she believed they had disrespected a fellow Blood.5NBC New York. Sisters in Cardi B Strip Club Brawl Also Bashed by Bloods Gang on Orders of Rapper’s Best Friend
She allegedly issued the orders while incarcerated in a Connecticut prison. Court documents quoted her telling subordinates to “pop that bottle” on one of the bartenders and saying, “I want hands put on them. I don’t even want no talking.”4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup Co-defendants Jeffrey Bush, Louis Love, and Rodolfo Zambrano allegedly carried out the attack, hitting the women and throwing a bottle, and the beating was recorded on a cell phone.6Patch. Cardi B Makes Guest Feature in Bloods Gang Indictment Prosecutors said Respass was “dissatisfied” with the level of violence and discussed whether the 5-9 Brims needed to target the sisters again.5NBC New York. Sisters in Cardi B Strip Club Brawl Also Bashed by Bloods Gang on Orders of Rapper’s Best Friend
The Cardi B Connection
Public attention to the case was driven largely by Respass’s close friendship with rapper Cardi B, who has described her as her best friend and been photographed with her at events including the MTV VMAs.4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup Cardi B was not named as a defendant in the federal racketeering case.
She was, however, tied to a separate incident at the same club. The Eastern District indictment alleged that about two weeks after the gang assault on the Wattley sisters, Cardi B returned to Angels and attacked the women, reportedly believing one of them had slept with her husband, the rapper Offset.4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup That episode became a state case against Cardi B. In September 2022 she pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, third-degree assault and reckless endangerment, and was sentenced to 15 days of community service.7Variety. Cardi B Pleads Guilty, Avoids Jail in Strip Club Attack
Indictment, Plea, and Sentence
On February 18, 2020, Respass was indicted as part of a federal takedown of the 5-9 Brims that charged 18 people across two indictments. In the Eastern District of New York, the main case, captioned United States v. Bush, No. 19-cr-378, alleged a racketeering conspiracy running from January 2012 through February 2020 and covering drug trafficking, assault, robbery, and firearms offenses. Respass was charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering.8News 5 Cleveland. Star Brim, Friend of Rapper Cardi B, Arrested, Accused of Being Godmother of 59 Brims Gang A separate Southern District indictment charged other defendants with crimes including murder and attempted murder.
Respass was 28 and heavily pregnant when the indictments were unsealed. While 17 other defendants were arrested that day, authorities allowed her to delay surrender until after she gave birth.4NBC New York. Cardi B’s Pregnant Best Friend Star Brim Charged as Godmother in Sweeping NYC Bloods Gang Roundup She was arraigned on February 19, 2020, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $50,000 bond, with the case assigned to Judge Pamela K. Chen.9CourtListener. United States v. Bush, 1:19-cr-00378
On May 6, 2021, she changed her plea, admitting to racketeering conspiracy and to ordering a slashing.1Yahoo Entertainment. Cardi B Bestie Star Brim Sentenced Her case was later transferred from the Eastern District to the Southern District of New York under Rule 20 in April 2023 and renumbered 23-cr-189.10PACER Monitor. USA v. Respass, 1:23-cr-00189 In March 2024 she was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and three years of supervised release.11HipHopWired. Star Brim RICO Sentenced to 1 Year
Life After Prison
Respass was released on June 19, 2025. Her conditions of supervised release reportedly include avoiding contact with alleged gang members and staying away from areas known for gang activity. She marked her return on Instagram with the post, “Guess who’s back.”2HotNewHiphop. Star Brim Post-Release News