Rapper NBA YoungBoy, legally known as Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, appeared in a Logan City courtroom on Monday to plead guilty to his involvement in a large-scale prescription drug fraud ring. Gaulden, 25, operated the illegal scheme out of his Huntsville home and initially faced 46 charges. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded 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. The remaining charges resulted in a “no contest” plea.
Under the plea deal, Gaulden’s four felony charges were reduced to Class A misdemeanors, sparing him from time in the Utah State Prison. Instead, he was fined $25,000. Logan District Judge Spencer Walsh also agreed to suspend a prison sentence because Gaulden is set to serve 27 months in federal prison for related charges stemming from Weber County, followed by five years of federal supervised probation.
“This is somewhat of a unique case involving multiple jurisdictions in both federal and state systems,” said state prosecutor Ronnie Keller. “This is just a smaller cog in the bigger wheel of ultimately seeking justice.”
Gaulden, a Louisiana native, has made waves in the music industry despite limited radio play, becoming one of the most streamed artists alongside Taylor Swift and Drake in 2022. His popularity extends to over 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The rapper had been living in Utah under house arrest following his involvement in a 2019 Miami shooting, with a 2021 courtroom deal suggesting the move would help him stay out of trouble.
During Monday’s hearing, Judge Walsh acknowledged Gaulden’s talent and urged him to make positive changes. “I’ve seen young men and women with great potential struggle with their addictions, and I don’t want that for you,” Walsh told him. “Once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can have a really bright future.”
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