The American rapper NBA YoungBoy filed a guilty plea to charges related to a prescription drug fraud scam.
The Louisiana rapper admitted to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanour unlawful pharmacist conduct when he appeared in court on Monday in Logan, Utah.
YoungBoy also pleaded “no contest” to 36 other crimes. He is currently spending 27 months on federal charges. At first, he was charged with 46 state offences.
The felony charges were lowered to Class A misdemeanours as part of the plea agreement.
The judge, Spencer Walsh, imposed a $25,000 fine in lieu of a jail sentence.
YoungBoy had previously agreed to serve more than two years in prison and five years on probation for a related federal case that was settled in September, which the judge recognised.
According to authorities, YoungBoy planned the scam from his Huntsville, Utah, home by calling in fake prescriptions under a doctor’s identity that he had stolen.
The medications were purportedly gathered from local pharmacies by his friends.
Walsh gave the 25-year-old artist words of support at sentence.
“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,” he said.
YoungBoy, known for his 2018 debut studio album ‘Until Death Call My Name’ and projects like ‘AI YoungBoy 2’ (2019) and ‘Sincerely, Kentrell’ (2021), is also facing an unresolved federal gun case in Louisiana.
The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, recently announced plans to release his new album, ‘I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders’, on December 6.
