Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in Utah prescription drug fraud ring
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[November 19, 2024]
LOGAN, Utah (AP) — A Louisiana-based rap artist pleaded guilty
Monday to his role in a large-scale prescription drug fraud ring that
operated out of his multimillion-dollar home in Utah.
Rapper NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, walked into a
courtroom in Logan, Utah, with his head hung low as he entered the plea
for his part in the alleged scheme, KTVX-TV reported.
The 25-year-old rapper was originally charged in the Logan District
Court with 46 charges related to the alleged crime. On Monday, he
pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two
counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor
unlawful pharmacy conduct. Gaulden entered a “no contest” plea to the
remaining charges.
As part of a plea deal, Gaulden will not serve prison time in Utah.
Instead, his four felony charges were reduced to Class A Misdemeanors
and he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, the television station
reported.
District Judge Spencer Walsh agreed to suspend a prison sentence as
Gaulden is expected to serve a “substantial” 27 months in federal prison
for related charges in a case stemming out of Weber County, Utah.
Following his release, Gaulden will then be placed on five years of
federal supervised probation.
“This is somewhat of a unique case where there have been multiple
jurisdictions involved both in the federal and the state systems,” said
state prosecutor Ronnie Keller. “This is just really a smaller cog in
the bigger wheel of ultimately seeking justice.”
Gaulden had been living in Utah under house arrest having previously
been allegedly involved in a 2019 Miami shooting. His relocation to Utah
came as part of a deal in 2021 in which his lawyers argued that “moving
to Utah would keep YoungBoy out of trouble."
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In this Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, NBA YoungBoy performs at the Lil'
WeezyAna Fest at Champions Square in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy
Harris/Invision/AP, File)
During his hearing Monday, Walsh
said it was clear that Gaulden was a very talented young man.
“I’ve seen so many times where you have young men and women who have
a lot of talent and potential. They can be robbed of that potential
when they start to really struggle with their addictions,” Walsh
told Gaulden. “I don’t want that for you.”
Walsh continued saying, “I’m sure that in your future, once you’re
done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on
federal probation and have a really bright future where you can
reach your full potential in every aspect of your life. Best of luck
to you, Mr. Gaulden.”
Gaulden, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, also is known as YoungBoy Never
Broke Again and has achieved four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200
and one Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His music includes “38
Baby,” “Outside Today” and Tyler, The Creator’s song, “Wusyaname,”
on which he is featured with Ty Dolla $ign. That collaboration
earned them a Grammy nomination in 2022 for Best Melodic Rap
Performance.
Billboard reported only pop star Taylor Swift and rapper Drake had
more streams in 2022, despite Gaulden having nearly zero radio
airplay. According to Spotify, Gaulden has over 16 million monthly
listeners.
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