Fetty Wap has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in helping run an extensive drug ring out of Long Island.
The “Trap Queen” rapper (real name Willie Junior Maxwell II) had been in custody since last August when his bail was revoked following allegations that he displayed a firearm and threatened to kill someone while on a FaceTime call.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and prosecutors argued for a longer sentence, claiming Fetty had used his platform to “glamorize the drug trade” while making millions from his music after “Trap Queen” dropped in 2015.
“Young people who admire the defendant and are considering selling drugs need to be sent a message that selling drugs is not a glamorous lifestyle and, if they participate in that trade, they will receive lengthy prison sentences,” said Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, who asked for a sentence between seven and nine years.
Fetty Wap’s sentencing came on Wednesday (May 24) when he appeared before Judge Joanna Seybert at the federal court in Central Islip, N.Y. (via The New York Times).
Fetty was arrested on federal drug charges at New York’s Citi Field in October 2021 as he was gearing up to take the stage at New York’s Rolling Loud Festival.
He was accused of running an extensive drug ring out of Long Island, allegedly helping traffic over 100 kilograms of opioids, crack and cocaine over from the West Coast to be distributed in Long Island.
After his arrest, the FBI recovered 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl pills, two 9mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, ammunition and $1.5million in cash.
The 31-year-old issued a statement to his fans last October after his guilty plea, and said he was in high spirits, despite his looming prison sentence.
“I just want to thank all the fans, you feel me? All the fans showing me love, sending all the reels and the stories and everything and all the tags, photos and everything like that, ya heard?” he said in a video shared online.
“You know, I got my head up always, you know what I’m saying? Like never bent, never fol. I love y’all, thank y’all for everything, you know what I’m saying?”
On the music side of things, Fetty Wap was still able to have a fairly productive year in 2022. His viral hit “Sweet Yamz” was not only popular on TikTok, but was crowned “Song of the Year” by none other than Snoop Dogg.
“Yo, this n-gga Fetty Wap got the Song of the Year right now,” Snoop said in an Instagram video while bumping the track in the studio. “This shit bangin’ like a muthafucka! I don’t know if it’s for Thanksgiving. Fetty Wap, you got one with this, nephew.”
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