Rapper NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, has decided to plead guilty to a federal weapons charge. The case is set to be moved from Louisiana to Utah, where he is also facing charges related to a prescription drug fraud ring. In court documents filed recently, Gaulden waived his right to a trial in Baton Rouge and the case will now be transferred to the federal court in Salt Lake City. He has signed a notice of his intent to plead guilty once the case is moved to Utah.
Prosecutors have accused Gaulden, a convicted felon, of possessing a handgun while filming a music video in Baton Rouge in 2020. He was arrested along with 14 others when more than a dozen guns were seized from the video set. The 24-year-old from Baton Rouge could face up to 10 years in prison in relation to the weapons case.
By transferring the case to Utah, the federal government gains authority to prosecute Gaulden in connection to the more than 60 felony counts he faces there regarding a “large scale prescription fraud ring.” Gaulden had been under house arrest in Utah awaiting his trial in Louisiana but has been in custody at the Weber County Jail since May 10, without bond, while awaiting trial for the drug-related charges.
NBA YoungBoy, also known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again, has garnered success with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart and a Top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Some of his popular songs include “38 Baby,” “Outside Today,” and his feature on Tyler, The Creator’s track, “Wusyaname,” which earned the duo a Grammy nomination in 2022 for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
