Informant: I Bribed FBI Agent With Cash, Cars, Shoes

A former Russian mobster and FBI informant indicted in the murder of Atlanta rapper Lil Phat says his FBI handler asked for and got bribes during the time he was under investigation for the killing. His lawyer also says that despite gifting the agent with $3,500 in cash, as well as jewelry, pricey sports shoes, hotel rooms, and the use of luxury cars, the agent's attempts to steer cops away from him ultimately drew more attention and led to his arrest, reports ABC News. The FBI says it is investigating the allegations and taking them "very seriously."

ABC says an investigation has revealed that informant Mani Chulpayev has twice avoided prison and deportation, and someone in the FBI has previously protected him from allegations of selling stolen cars. When one reporter began poking around the case, he says he received a call from the agency. "I've been doing this 32 years, it's never happened before," says the reporter from an ABC affiliate. "It tells me that Mani was interwoven with the FBI in Atlanta deeply enough that he can make one phone call and they're instantly calling me to find out exactly what the story is." (More Mani Chulpayev stories.)