Summary:
- Nelly was cited for no car insurance and four ecstasy tablets.
- The rapper was arrested after an identification verification check.
- Drugs were found in his possession, and he faces charges from an old warrant.
Early Wednesday morning, rapper Nelly was arrested for possessing ecstasy while visiting the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri. The rapper was cited for holding four tablets of ecstasy and for not having proper car insurance.
More Details on the Arrest
The 49-year-old Grammy winner was taken into custody just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Nelly was visiting the Hollywood Casino when he was subject to an identification verification check. It’s almost comical that he was double-checked at the casino since he is a famous rapper.
It was during the ID check that Nelly, who is formally “Cornell Iral Haynes Jr“, was found with drugs in his possession. He was charged with drug possession, and the state had an old warrant for his arrest involving a traffic charge. Nelly’s lawyers are denying the drug charge.
Nelly’s Attorney Fights Back
Scott Rosenblum is the attorney representing Nelly. He stated that his client was not arrested for a drug charge but was taken into custody for no proof of insurance dating back to 2018. A warrant was issued in December 2023 regarding the charge, but Nelly did not receive a notice. Rosenblum states that Nelly was arrested by an ‘overzealous, out-of-line officer’.
The attorney stated that after Nelly won several jackpots at the casino, which he frequently visits and performs at, the officer checked him for warrants. The officer was simply supposed to oversee the transfer of winnings but instead decided to look for issues.
Rosenblum stated that he is 100% confident that the case will go nowhere, and he is asking for an inquiry into the officer’s behavior. The attorney feels the officer acted in bad faith and was looking to stir up trouble where there was none to begin with.
Nelly was taken into custody and released on Wednesday. This is not his first time dealing with legal charges. Back in 2015, Nelly was found possessing marijuana and pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Today, he is revitalizing his career with small shows across the US and is expecting a baby with his new wife, Ashanti, another popular entertainer.
Now, Nelly will have to wait and see if the charges stick or if he is able to pay penalties or some type of fine on the insurance charge. It is still unclear if the officer has proof that Nelly had ecstasy in his possession. More details in the case are sure to come out in the coming days.
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