By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed February 12, 2015
"Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" star Stevie J, who has been accused of owing a woman $1.1 million in child support over 13 years, pled not guilty in court in a New York federal court earlier this week.
He was arrested last year and jailed in Fulton County.
Steve J, whose real name is Steve Jordan, is a record producer who has worked with P. Diddy and has been an indelibly charismatic presence on the VH1 reality show and arguably a major reason for the show's success.
He talked to TMZ, with his (supposed) wife Joseline Hernandez by his side, and expressed confidence the case would be thrown out, as it had been in state court. He dubbed the case "frivolous." He said he pays child support and sees his two kids regularly. "My kids can get through a check really quick," he noted. The mother, Carol Bennett, lives in Philadelphia. He also found the New York jurisdiction strange since neither he nor the mom live there.
Court documents show he was required to pay almost $6,600 a month in child care support starting in 1999. That was upped to $8,557 a month in 2011.
A news release from the office of the Manhattan U.S. Attorney said Jordan’s payments have been in arrears since March, 2001. The government claims he owes $1,107,412.
The show is currently in production in its fourth season.
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