Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in Utah prescription drug fraud ring

LOGAN, Utah — A Louisiana-based rap artist pleaded guilty Monday to his role in a large-scale prescription drug fraud ring that operated from his multimillion-dollar home in Utah.

NBA rapper YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, walked into a courtroom in Logan, Utah, and bowed his head as he entered the plea for his role in the alleged scheme, KTVX-TV reported.

The 25-year-old rapper was originally indicted in Logan District Court on 46 counts related to the alleged crime. He pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery and six counts of misdemeanor illegal pharmacy conduct. Gaulden entered a “no contest” plea to the remaining charges.

As part of the plea agreement, Gaulden will not serve prison time in Utah. Instead, the four felony charges against him were reduced to Class A Misdemeanors and he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, the television station reported.

District Judge Spencer Walsh agreed to suspend Gaulden’s sentence because he is expected to spend a “significant” 27 months in federal prison on related charges in a case originating in Weber County, Utah. Following his release, Gaulden will be subject to five years of federally supervised probation.

“This is a unique situation involving multiple jurisdictions in both the federal and state systems,” said state attorney Ronnie Keller. “This is actually a smaller cog in the larger wheel of seeking justice.”

Gaulden was previously living under house arrest in Utah for his alleged involvement in the 2019 Miami shooting. His move to Utah occurred in 2021 as part of a deal in which his lawyers argued that “moving to Utah would keep YoungBoy out of trouble.”

At his hearing on Monday, Walsh said it was clear Gaulden was a very talented young man.

“I have seen many times that there are young men and women with so much talent and potential. When they really start to struggle with their addiction, they may be robbed of that potential,” Walsh told Gaulden. “I don’t want that for you.”

Walsh continued, “I’m confident that in the future, when your time in federal prison is over, you can really do well on federal probation and have a truly bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of the law of your life. Good luck to you, Mr. Gaulden.”

Gaulden, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is also known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again and has had four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and one Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His music includes “38 Baby”, “Outside Today”. ” and Tyler, The Creator’s song “Wusyaname” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. This collaboration earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2022.

Billboard reported that while Gaulden had almost zero radio airplay, only pop star Taylor Swift and rapper Drake had more streams in 2022. According to Spotify, Gaulden has more than 16 million monthly listeners.