Louisiana rap artist, NBA Youngboy, who was sentenced to just under two years in prison for arms -related positions, was forgiven by the president Donald Trump On Wednesday.
The rapper is among a series of high profile people Trump forgiven This week, including a former New York congressman, a union leader and a Reality television stars couple.
“I want to thank President Trump for giving me a forgiveness and giving me the opportunity to continue building, as a man, as a father and as an artist,” said NBA Youngboy, whose real name is Kentrelll Galeden, in a statement published online.
The forgiveness of Gaulden was confirmed on Wednesday night by two White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail actions that had not yet been formally made public.
In 2024, Gaulden He was sentenced By a federal judge in Utah after he acknowledged possessing weapons despite being a convicted criminal. He reached an agreement that resolved the charges of the Utah state against him and resolved two series of federal charges against him: one had a 23 -month sentence and the other ordered five years of probation and a fine of $ 200,000.
Gaulden was released from the federal prison in March and sent to the confinement of the house after receiving credit for the time fulfilled, according to his lawyer Drew Findling. With the domestic confinement ended last month, forgiveness means that you will not have to follow the terms of your probation, including drug tests, he said.
Findling said it was excited that Gaulden’s legal saga had come to an end.
“From Louisiana to Utah, the battles have been endless, and can now concentrate on their family, and then, of course, his incredible career,” Findling said in a statement.
The rapper has acknowledged that he had a Glock 21 .45 caliber pistol and a Masterpiece Arms MPA30t 9 mm pistol while filming a rap video in Baton Rouge. He has also said that he had a 9 mm Sig Sant Siga Sigomatic gun at his home in Huntsville, Utah. He had agreed to give up weapons.
Gaulden had been previously convicted in Louisiana by aggravated assault with a firearm, according to his statement published before the guilt.
He also declared himself guilty in November of his role in A prescription drug fraud ring That operated outside his home in Utah. He had to pay a fine of $ 25,000 and he was not given imprisonment.
The rapper, whose scene nickname represents “Never Broke Again”, is preparing to organize a great American tour in September.
He has achieved four albums No. 1 in the Billboard 200 and a Top 10 of the 10 in the Billboard Hot 100. His music includes “38 baby”, “Outside Today” and Tyler, the song of the creator, “Wusyaname”, in which he appears with Ty Dolla $ Ign. That collaboration earned them a Grammy nomination in 2022 for the best performance of melodic rap.
___
Associated Press Will Weissert writer in Washington contributed to this report.
