Fetty pleaded guilt to a federal offense of conspiring to distribute and possess controlled narcotics, according to NBC New York. According to federal authorities, the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
As was previously mentioned, Fetty was one of several people who were detained in October on charges that they were trafficking drugs throughout Long Island and New Jersey, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Later, he was freed after posting a $500,000 bail. Six more people were also detained, and all save Fetty are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess prohibited narcotics as well as a handgun.
According to The New York Post, Fetty’s lawyer said after the guilty plea: “He is not working [with federal officials].” I want to be really clear about it. This is a commonplace plea.
Fetty Wap pleaded guilt to that crime during a hearing on Monday in federal court in Long Island, paving the way for a possibly long sentence. His minimum penalty, according to the prosecution, is five years, although the guidelines call for a sentence of between seven and nine.
It is unknown whether the guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with the prosecution, which would generally indicate that he is aiding the investigation and may be given a lighter sentence. On Monday, a request for comment was not immediately answered by his counsel.
Indictments against the rapper and five other people—Anthony Leonardi, Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan, Kavaughn Wiggins, and Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey prison officer—were presented by the prosecution in October, the day before the rapper was detained at Rolling Loud New York. Prosecutors said at the time that the gang was responsible for “the addiction and overdose crisis that has repeatedly torn apart people’s lives.”
According to FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll, “the fact that we apprehended a chart-topping rap musician and a correctional officer as part of the conspiracy underscores just how disgusting the drug trade has gotten.”