Shyne's phone privileges revoked

According to the Associated Press, Shyne had his phone privileges revoked Monday and was barred from conducting in-person interviews as authorities investigate whether he may have violated prison rules in making about 100 phone calls.

Recently Shyne has been in great demand following the release of his album, Godfather Buried Alive. Already, MTV has aired a special about him, The New York Times conducted a phone interview, and he's on the cover of the September issue of Vibe.

Under New York law, prisoners can't call cell phones, have calls transferred to another party, conduct business over the phone or call reporters not on their designated media list. An investigation indicates Barrow did all of those things and provided phony names on his designated call list, said James Flateau, a state Department of Correctional Services spokesman.

"If a call is transferred to a cell phone, we have no idea who that call is going to or where that person is," Flateau said. "In a post-Sept. 11 world, we'd like to know who inmates are talking to."

If an investigation shows Barrow was doing business over the phone before his newly released CD, state law would allow victims of his crime to sue for compensation. Prison officials contend Barrow, while in prison, discussed the marketing and promotion of his work with Def Jam. Signs in the prison alert inmates that their calls are recorded and may be monitored, Flateau said.

New York's Son of Sam law prevents convicts from profiting from their crimes. The New York Crime Victims Board sent a letter to Def Jam dated Aug. 10 seeking information on Barrow's contract with the company.