Federal prosecutors accuse NBA YoungBoy (aka YoungBoy Never Broke Again) of violating the terms of his house arrest by using unspecified drugs — and of telling his probation officers he has “no intention” of stopping.
In a filing Thursday (February 29), prosecutors asked a Louisiana federal judge to set a hearing to address the rapper's “non-compliant behavior” while he awaits a July trial on federal gun charges. They say he violated a rule that prohibited him from “using or possessing an illegal drug or other controlled substance” while under house arrest.
“The undersigned has become aware that the defendant has violated [this rule] and has informed his supervising officer that he has no intention of discontinuing the use of the substance that led to the violation,” said the US Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. he wrote in the deposition.
The filing did not specify what drug YoungBoy is accused of using. Attorneys for the rapper did not respond to a request for comment. they will likely file a formal response to the allegation in the coming days.
YoungBoy was charged by federal prosecutors in Louisiana in March 2021 with “possession of a firearm” after he was allegedly found with two guns during a September 2020 incident in Baton Rouge, LA. Possession of weapons would be illegal for YoungBoy, as the rapper was previously convicted in 2017 of aggravated assault with a firearm.
When he was arrested in Los Angeles on those charges, another gun was found in his car, which led to a similar case being brought by federal prosecutors in California. YoungBoy was acquitted of those charges after a trial in July 2022, but still faces an upcoming trial in Louisiana on the original indictment.
Awaiting trial, YoungBoy has been confined to his Salt Lake City mansion — a house arrest that has now lasted more than two full years. In October, his lawyers argued that the “long period of social isolation” was harming his mental health. They asked the judge to ease the restrictions, including allowing him to travel to a recording studio to create new music. But that request was largely rejected in November.
YoungBoy's trial is scheduled to begin on July 15 and is expected to last two weeks.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/youngboy-never-broke-again-used-drugs-house-arrest-feds-1235619450/
