Judge awards $1,500 to fine lawyer Cardi B for questioning about possible gang ties

Four months after a Los Angeles County jury found Cardi B not liable for the assault and battery on former security guard Emani Ellis, a judge fined Ellis’ attorney for inappropriately questioning her about possible “gang affiliations.”

According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman wrote in a ruling Wednesday, Jan. 28, that Ellis’ attorney Ron A. Rosen Giampurza violated a court order by asking questions about Cardi’s personal history.

Before the trial begins in August 2025, Fusselman ordered his lawyers not to question the rapper (real name Belcalis Almanzar) about his so-called past misdeeds, including his exotic dancing and alleged “former relationships with gangs and gang members in his youth.” Doing so could confuse the jury, waste an unreasonable amount of time, and would be “unfairly prejudiced.”

But one of the first questions Janfarza asked Cardi on Aug. 26 was, “Do you have any involvement with gangs at this point?” The rapper’s attorney immediately objected, and the judge cautioned Janfaza “for his clear violation of the court’s judgment,” according to the ruling.

The paper said Janfaza was fined $1,500 for asking the question. He must pay by Feb. 27 and self-report the sanctions order to the California State Bar within 30 days.

On September 2, 2025, a jury found Cardi not responsible after Ellis claimed the Grammy winner assaulted her, including scratching her with acrylic fingernails, outside a Beverly Hills clinic in February 2018.

Shortly afterward, Cardi’s lawyers called for a criminal contempt charge against Janfaza for questioning about the gang, as well as citing evidence that was not introduced during the trial in closing arguments.

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Janfaza then claimed that her office manager had formulated the questions for Cardi, that she had been sleep deprived during the trial, and that the phrase “at this time” made sense in the questions.

“The court is not persuaded by any of these arguments,” Judge Fusselman wrote, according to Billboard. “It is clear that Mr. Janfaza was aware of the (previous) judgment and that this question was specifically crafted to avoid a direct violation of the letter rather than the express intent of the court’s judgment. … This was a knowing and intentional violation of the court’s judgment.”

Ellis first accused Cardi in 2020, but the rapper, who was pregnant with her first child at the time of the incident, has repeatedly denied the assault charges.

Cardi admitted that she was involved in an “argument” with Ellis and claimed that she violated her privacy by videotaping her before her gynecological appointment.

Before the showdown, Cardi stepped out of the elevator and into the hallway of a Beverly Hills clinic. There, she passed Ellis, but Cardi claims she was filming her. Cardi also claimed that Ellis told someone on the phone that she “just met that musician.” Ellis then claimed that Cardi yelled profanities and racial slurs at her, cut her in the face with her nails and spat on her.

Cardi said the two had gotten into an argument, but denied assaulting Ellis. She explained that she had “strong concerns” at the time.

Janfarza asked Cardi why she was “concerned” during the argument. “Because I’m pregnant!” Cardi replied. “And this girl is trying to beat my ass! Hello?”

During the trial, many of Cardi’s heated exchanges with Janfarza went viral online due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced reactions and animated facial expressions that included eye rolls and shoulder shrugs.

The moment that got a lot of attention was on August 26, when Jean Fazza was noticeably confused by Cardi’s wig swap.

“Yesterday I had black hair and short hair. Today I have blonde hair and long hair. Which one is real hair? Or both?” Janfarza said.

Cardi rolled her eyes and laughed, then said, “It’s a wig!” Janfarza then replied, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Well, that’s a nice wig today.”

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The same day, Janfaza answered a question about unfamiliar legal terminology to Cardi. At one point, he asked her, “Are you arguing when I’m talking to you right now?”

“We’re having a debate, so to speak,” the “Bodak Yellow” performer replied, drawing laughter from the courtroom crowd.

“I didn’t touch that woman,” Cardi told reporters outside court after the judge announced the jury’s verdict. “That said, I’m going to be nice this time. The next time someone tries to file a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue. I’m going to make them pay. This is wrong.”