And the saga of Afrika Owes continues. Yesterday, the 17-year-old accused of ferrying drugs for her boyfriend's Harlem gang was released from Rikers after the Abyssinian Baptist Church used their funds to post her $25,000 bail and give her a second chance. Just like Patty Hearst! Church deacon Gerald Barbour said, "Whatever the facts are, she’s one of ours." more ›

After a judge ruled that it wasn't against tax laws, the Harlem Abyssinian Baptist Church has voted to use church funds to post the $25,000 cash bail for 17-year-old Afrika Owes, who has been sitting in Rikers on charges of conspiracy and ferrying guns to a Harlem gang. Owes' mother told the Daily News, "That was awesome. That shows you the power of the body of Christ." Which the judge had to come face to face with a few weeks ago...or something. more ›

Previously, Judge Edward McLaughlin denied the Harlem Abyssinian Baptist Church's request to post the $50,000 bail for 17-year-old Afrika Owes, who has been charged with conspiracy and ferrying guns for a local gang. McLaughlin had said he needed to research the tax and non-profit issues involved in using church money to post bail, but after looking into he said there's nothing stopping the church. If they hold a corporate meeting and get a majority vote, they can post her $50,000 bail in mid-April. Perhaps he finally saw the body of Christ. more ›

Accused gun mule Afrika Owes has the likes of Harlem Reverend Calvin Butts and Rep. Charlie Rangel on her side, but every little bit helps, right? Maybe not when it's her 20-year-old boyfriend, who is currently doing time at Rikers for armed robbery, defending her. Owes is accused of running guns to a Harlem gang for her boyfriend Jaquan "Jay Cash" Layne after repeatedly talking to him while he was in jail, but he told the Daily News, "She didn't do it. I didn't do it." Finally, someone to clear up this whole misunderstanding. more ›

Reverend Calvin Butts continued his mission to keep accused drug mule Afrika Owes out of prison at a sermon yesterday. He's already compared the 17-year-old to Patty Hearst, but from the sounds of it he compared her to Jesus Christ...maybe? He told his congregation, "The judge does not understand. The poor man has been confused because he has come face-to-face with the body of Christ. When the body of Christ stands up, it confuses people." Then again, Rangel did stand up during Owes's hearing... more ›

Harlem seems to be conflicted over what to do about Afrika Owes, the former straight-A student who is now being held at Rikers after being charged with carrying guns to the 137th Street Crew. Harlem's Reverend Calvin Butts says she's been led astray, and even compared her to Patty Hearst. And now lawyer Elsie Chandler has filed papers asking for a reduction or dismissal of her bail, claiming Owes is "full of promise, brilliant, kind and deeply troubled." more ›

Harlem Reverend Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church is still on his crusade to clear the name of Afrika Owes, the former straight-A student who is now sitting in Rikers after being accused of ferrying guns to a Harlem street gang at the command of her boyfriend, who was also doing time in Rikers. But where do you draw the line between Stockholm Syndrome and stupidity? Butts suggests Owes's actions fall within the former, and that she deserves a second chance. Just like Patty Hearst got. more ›

Yesterday Harlem Rev. Calvin Butts asked his congregation to pray for Afrika Owes, the 17-year-old straight-A student who was charged with ferrying guns to Harlem gang on the instruction of her boyfriend, who is currently doing time at Rikers. "She was just led astray as so many have been," he said. "I'm asking for your prayers...save this young woman." Owes was once a part of his church's choir and youth ministry, and her mother still attends the church. Butts said, "We want to believe she was led into this. Our sense ... is that she is not a drug dealer." more ›

A straight-A student with Ivy League aspirations is currently studying for her SATs in jail, after being nabbed with 13 others and accused of ferrying guns to a Harlem street gang. Prosecutors say 17-year-old Afrika Owes was taking orders from her 20-year-old boyfriend Jaquan Layne, who was running the gang from Rikers while doing time for armed robbery. She was hit with conspiracy and gun charges, but said in court, "I'm not guilty of these things." more ›