Nelly Dodges Drug Charges After Casino Arrest

Nelly will not face drug charges following his arrest this summer at a St. Louis-area casino. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced the decision, stating, “We don’t believe the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges.”

Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, was arrested at Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Maryland Heights, Missouri, on August 7 after reportedly collecting several jackpots. During the process, a state trooper informed the rapper that a background check was necessary due to a warrant from 2018 related to driving without proof of insurance.

Following the warrant discovery, Nelly was arrested and searched, during which authorities allegedly found four ecstasy pills. Police initially sought a charge of felony possession of a controlled substance. However, Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, argued that the search was unwarranted, noting that a warrant check should not have been required for jackpot collection.

After a “fair and impartial review of the evidence,” Rosenblum said, the charges were dropped. Additionally, the outstanding insurance charge was resolved after Nelly provided proof of coverage.