Louisiana rap artist NBA YoungBoy, who was sentenced to only underneath two years in jail on gun-related prices, was pardoned by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
The rapper is amongst quite a lot of high-profile folks Trump pardoned this week, together with a former New York congressman, a labor union chief and a actuality TV star couple.
“I need to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the chance to maintain constructing — as a person, as a father, and as an artist,” NBA YoungBoy, whose actual title is Kentrell Gaulden, mentioned in a press release posted on-line.
Gaulden’s pardon was confirmed Wednesday night by two White Home officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to element actions that had not but been formally made public.
In 2024, Gaulden was sentenced by a federal choose in Utah after he acknowledged possessing weapons regardless of being a convicted felon. He reached an settlement that resolved Utah state prices towards him and settled two units of federal prices towards him — one carried a 23-month sentence and the opposite ordered 5 years of probation and a $200,000 tremendous.
Gaulden was launched from federal jail in March and despatched to residence confinement after receiving credit score for time served, in line with his lawyer Drew Findling. With residence confinement completed final month, the pardon means he will not need to observe the phrases of his probation, together with drug testing, he mentioned.
Findling mentioned he was thrilled Gaulden’s authorized saga had reached an finish.
“From Louisiana to Utah the battles have been endless, and now he can concentrate on first and foremost his family, and then, of course, his amazing career,” Findling mentioned in a press release.
The rapper has acknowledged that he possessed a Glock 21 .45-caliber pistol and a Masterpiece Arms MPA30T 9mm handgun whereas filming a rap video in Baton Rouge. He has additionally mentioned he had a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol at his residence in Huntsville, Utah. He had agreed to surrender the weapons.
Gaulden had beforehand been convicted in Louisiana of aggravated assault with a firearm, in line with his assertion launched prematurely of the plea settlement.
He had additionally pleaded responsible in November to his position in a prescription drug fraud ring that operated out of his residence in Utah. He needed to pay a $25,000 tremendous and was given no jail time.
The rapper, whose stage moniker stands for “Never Broke Again,” is getting ready to set out on a significant U.S. tour in September.
He has achieved 4 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and one Prime 10 hit on the Billboard Sizzling 100. His music contains “38 Baby,” “Outside Today” and Tyler, The Creator’s music, “Wusyaname,” on which he’s featured with Ty Dolla $ign. That collaboration earned them a Grammy nomination in 2022 for Finest Melodic Rap Efficiency.
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Related Press author Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
