HOUSTON -- A Houston rap mogul was charged with felony assault, accused of orchestrating a brutal beating against a rival, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

Prosecutors said Rap-A-Lot records CEO James Prince hired five men to attack a competitor, sending him to the hospital.

Local 2 obtained pictures of photographs Ronald "Ronnie" Bookman said he took in a hospital on his cell phone on Jan. 26, the day after he said James Prince, the owner of Rap-A-Lot Records, ordered an assault on him.

On Friday, a grand jury elevated Prince's charges from misdemeanor assault to felonious aggravated assault.

"The only difference is that this has gone from a misdemeanor to a felony, but the facts remain the same," said Kent Schaffer, Prince's attorney. "James Prince did not have anything to do with Ronnie Bookman's assault."

Prince is a multi-millionaire, considered a recording mogul and a community leader.

Bookman owns a rival recording studio, Studio 7303.

In an earlier statement, Bookman's attorney John Thomas said, "We believe Mr. Prince's plan was to eliminate competition in the Houston Rap and Hip Hop music business through the use of threats, intimidation and violence."

Bookman filed a lawsuit against Prince in April.

According to the lawsuit, Prince directed a half-dozen of his associates to attack Bookman at a Houston recreation center owned by Prince. Bookman said he was lured to the gym after he was advised that Prince wanted to "make things right" regarding a dispute between the two men.

When Bookman arrived at the gym, he said he was led to a weight room where he met with Prince. The lawsuit says that Prince became angry with Bookman and directed the men to enter the room and assault Bookman.

Bookman suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose and injuries to both eyes.

Bookman has several past drug convictions.

Prince has no prior record. If convicted, he could face two to 10 years in prison.