NBA YoungBoy has pleaded guilty to the state charges stemming from his prescription drug fraud case.
According to a report from ABC 4, YB appeared in a Utah court on Monday (November 18), pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct. He pleaded “no contest” to the remaining charges.
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Because his plea was a part of a larger plea deal, the four felony charges were reduced to Class A Misdemeanors – resulting in a $25K fine and zero prison time.
In his sentencing, the judge noted he wanted to give the rapper a chance to flourish as he is already awaiting sentencing on federal charges. That case is likely to result in a 27-month prison sentence, followed by five years of federal supervised probation.
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“I’ve seen so many times where you have young men and women who have a lot of talent and potential. They can be robbed of that potential when they start to really struggle with their addictions,” Walsh told NBA YoungBoy. “I don’t want that for you.
“I’m sure that in your future, once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on federal probation and have a really bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of your life. Best of luck to you, Mr. Gaulden.”
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State prosecutor Ronnie Keller added: “This is somewhat of a unique case where there have been multiple jurisdictions involved both in the federal and the state systems. This is just really a smaller cog in the bigger wheel of ultimately seeking justice.”
YoungBoy was initially arrested in April in connection with a prescription drug fraud ring in Utah.
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The alleged scheme worked like this, according to the affidavit: “A suspect calls in a prescription, claiming the identity of a real doctor and using a fraudulent patient name and birthday, all for Promethazine with Codeine. Sometime after the prescriptions are called in, they are filled and picked up by [YoungBoy and/or people referred to as ‘Known Associates’ 1 and 2].”
The rapper even allegedly impersonated a doctor during the scheme but raised suspicion when he used the word “axed” instead of “asked.”
NBA YoungBoy (real name Kentrell Gaulden) was previously charged with 63 counts relating to identity fraud, forgery, obtaining a prescription under false pretenses, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a pattern of unlawful activity and possession of a controlled substance.
The controversial rapper later had more charges added to his sheet including possession of a firearm by a restricted person and two counts of obtaining a prescription without permission, according to KUTV.
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YoungBoy was already on house arrest at the time the charges were filed, with the rapper confined to his home in Utah since 2021 for a 2020 arrest where he was caught carrying a gun while filming a music video in his hometown of Baton Rouge.
