Topline
Fetty Wap—a rapper best known for his hit song “Trap Queen”—was sentenced to six years in federal prison Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to trafficking narcotics across the country.
Fetty Wap was sentenced to six years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a cross-country … [+]
Key Facts
Fetty Wap, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, and five others were accused of conspiring to possess and distribute more than 220 pounds of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between June 2019 and June 2020, Billboard reported.
Maxwell had been out on bail prior to pleading guilty, but his bail was revoked and he was arrested again in August after prosecutors alleged he threatened to kill someone over FaceTime while brandishing a firearm; he later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carried a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Maxwell’s attorneys argued he should have received the minimum sentence because he got involved in the drug trade during the pandemic as a way to support his family, claiming the rapper has “become more self-aware in the past several months” and will behave differently after his release, Rolling Stone reported.
Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence than Maxwell received, saying his music was an “aggravating factor” and that the rapper “has used, and continues to use, his fame, sizable platform and influence to glamorize the drug trade.”
Key Background
Maxwell was arrested on the drug charges in 2021 at CitiField in New York City at the Rolling Loud musical festival. It wasn’t Maxwell’s first run-in with the law, though, as was arrested in 2017 on a DUI charge after police said he was caught drag racing on a New York City highway, while he was also arrested in 2019 in Las Vegas after he allegedly assaulted three employees at a hotel. In the DUI arrest, Maxwell struck a deal and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment and in the Las Vegas incident a judge dismissed the charges provided the rapper stayed out of trouble.
Crucial Quote
Maxwell expressed remorse for his actions at his sentencing, the Associated Press reported, telling the judge: “Me being selfish in my pride put me in this position today.”
Further Reading
Fetty Wap Is Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Running Drugs (New York Times)
Fetty Wap Sentenced to Six Years After Pleading Guilty to Drug Charge (Rolling Stone)
Rapper Fetty Wap sentenced to 6 years in prison for drug-trafficking scheme (AP)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/05/24/rapper-fetty-wap-sentenced-to-6-years-in-prison-for-drug-trafficking/