Louisiana-based NBA rapper YoungBoy pleaded guilty Monday to his role in a large-scale prescription drug fraud ring that operated out of his multimillion-dollar home in Utah.
The 25-year-old artist, whose real name is Kentrell Gauldenwalked into a courtroom in Logan, Utah, his head hung low as he entered the plea for his part in the alleged scheme, KTVX-TV reported.
Gaulden was initially charged in Logan District Court with 46 counts related to the alleged crime. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree felony fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery and six misdemeanor counts of unlawful pharmacy conduct. Golden pleaded “no contest” to the remaining charges.
As part of a plea deal, Golden will serve no prison time in Utah. Instead, his four felony charges were reduced to Class A misdemeanors and he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, the station reported.
District Judge Spencer Walsh agreed to suspend a prison sentence as Golden is expected to serve a “substantial” 27 months in federal prison on related charges in a case originating in Weber County, Utah. Upon his release, Golden will be placed on five years of federal supervised probation.
“This is a somewhat unique case where there were multiple jurisdictions involved in both the federal and state systems,” the state's attorney said. Ronnie Keller. “This is really a smaller cog in the larger wheel of the ultimate pursuit of justice.”
Golden was living in Utah under house arrest after he was allegedly previously involved in a shooting in Miami in 2019. His relocation to Utah was made as part of a 2021 deal in which his lawyers argued that “the move to Utah would kept YoungBoy out of trouble.”
During his hearing Monday, Walsh said it was clear Gaulden was a very talented young man.
“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 ability when they start really struggling with their addictions,” Walsh told Gaulden. “I don't want that for you.”
Walsh went on to say, “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 your life. Good luck to you, Mr. Gaulden.'
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/nba-youngboy-guilty-plea-utah-prescription-drug-fraud-ring/
