Fetty Wap
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The story of Fetty Wap is a cautionary tale that all rappers should take heed to. He has conducted his first interview since being in prison.
XXL Magazine has secured the MC’s first Q&A while he serves time. While it seems that he is holding himself accountable he did make it clear that he knows he made some big mistakes. “Some of the things I think about really is being home,” he said. “I take accountability for everything I did. I don’t really be blaming nobody for nothing. It ain’t nobody else fault that I’m here.” The New Jersey native went on imply that the individuals around him also let him down. “However it may have went down, whatever, like with the people and all that, basically, just not standing tall. But at the end of the day, that’s my fault for involving myself around people like that” he added. “And putting your trust in the people that’s not really real, that’s not really who they say they is. So, my whole thing is like, man, just stop fuckin’ with n****s, man. That’s how I feel.”
Although he is currently down for several years he still feels grateful to know he does have a date. “Some of the dudes I be kickin’ it in here with, some dudes got 50 years and 30 years, some of them got life. One of my mans, who I was in Brooklyn MDC [a federal administrative detention facility that holds prisoners with pending cases] with, right now, he facing 120 years. And he just smiling every day” he said.
On October 29, 2021 federal authorities arrested him while arriving at the Rolling Loud New York music festival. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On August 22, 2022 Fetty Wap plead guilty and is now serving a six year prison sentence in New York. His new album King Zoo will be released on November 24.
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Fetty Wap has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for drug trafficking. The “Trap Queen” rapper recently asserted that he only resorted to drug dealing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, the New Jersey rapper pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine, after his arrest for the infraction October 2021. Born Willie Junior Maxwell II, at the time he was reportedly facing up to five years in jail.
But on Wednesday (May 24), the judge reportedly handed Fetty Wap a six-year sentence, with five years of probation as well.
TMZ reports that the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, requested that the judge give Fetty between seven and nine years behind bars. Peace asserted that Fetty was part of drug trafficking conspiracy that littered Long Island with cocaine.
Back in 2021, Fetty was arrested by the Feds on a two-count federal indictment while he was on his way to the Rolling Loud festival at New York’s CitiField in New York City. Then he didn’t help his casewhen he was again pinched a year later, this time for allegedly threatening a “snitch” on Facetime.
At the time of his arrest, the FBI had confiscated $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, two 9mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition from various locations tied to the alleged conspiracy
This story is developing.
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It’s safe to say that we all experienced some hard times during the lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people died, businesses were shuttered some never reopened again, and crime, homelessness, and addiction skyrocketed. But not many of us resorted to selling hard drugs to get by.
Yet, rapper Fetty Wap’s attorney has cited the pandemic as one of the alleged origins of the rapper’s “bicoastal drug distribution organization” that led to his October 2021 arrest on federal drug conspiracy charges.
Fetty’s lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio filed a memorandum in federal court arguing for the New Jersey native rapper born Willie Junior Maxwell II to receive the mandatory minimum of five years for conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances versus the 87 to 108 months that the prosecutor is pushing for.
According to XXL, Macedonio’s letter to the sentencing judge reads, in part, “In or about 2020, with the coming of the worldwide pandemic, things began to change for Mr. Maxwell. There were no opportunities to perform, thus his income was severely limited,” Fetty Wap’s attorney writes. “He was sued personally, was going through a divorce, and was involved with a tour manager who was stealing from him. While the bills kept coming in, the money to pay them was running out. At or about the same time, Mr. Maxwell lost his grandparents and several other people who were close to him.”
The letter continues: “Depression and panic began to set in. As stated, Mr. Maxwell took enormous pride in his ability to provide for his children and lend support to his other family members. He is described as a people pleaser and a person who gains great satisfaction from taking care of others. Suddenly it felt like life was going in reverse and he became ashamed when he began to struggle to keep up the lifestyle that he created for so many. His judgment became impaired. Desperate to keep up with his financial obligations, Mr. Maxwell became involved in the instant offense for a few months in the spring of 2020.”
Fetty Wap was arrested by the FBI on federal drug charges in October of 2021. The feds nabbed the rapper right before he took the stage at Rolling Loud. He and five other people are accused of helping distribute over 100 kilos of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in New York and New Jersey
He was released on bond but arrested again in the fall of 2022 for allegedly threatening to kill a man on a FaceTime call.
Fetty Wap is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
Lawyers for Fetty Wap are asking a judge to sentence him to five years – the minimum under the law – after he pleaded guilty last year to federal drug charges, arguing that the star rapper committed his crimes only to “financially support others” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The “Trap Queen” star (real name Willie Junior Maxwell II) has admitted to participating in what prosecutors called “a multimillion-dollar bicoastal drug distribution organization,” pleading guilty in August to a single charge of conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.
Now, with sentencing set for next week, the rapper’s lawyers say he should receive the minimum possible sentence for that conviction, arguing that he “realizes the terrible mistake he made” and is “truly sorry for the loss and hurt he has caused.”
“What makes this case unusual is Mr. Maxwell’s motivation,” his lawyers wrote in a Wednesday (May 18) filing. “Personal gain was not his motivation. Rather, he was motivated by his commitment to financially support others. He now realizes that he does not have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
Sentencing guidelines call for a prison term ranging from seven and nine years, but in their filing, Fetty Wap’s lawyers say their client deserves less than that because he only turned to crime amid the pandemic, as his touring income dried up but “the bills kept coming in.”
“Suddenly it felt like life was going in reverse and he became ashamed when he began to struggle to keep up the lifestyle that he created for so many. His judgment became impaired,” the rapper’s lawyers wrote. “Desperate to keep up with his financial obligations, Mr. Maxwell became involved in the instant offense for a few months in the spring of 2020.”
Fetty Wap was arrested in October 2021 at Rolling Loud New York, after prosecutors unveiled an indictment against him and five others: Anthony Leonardi, Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan, Kavaughn Wiggins and Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey corrections officer.
At the time, prosecutors said the group had shipped more than 100 kilograms of the drugs from California and distributed them on Long Island, contributing to “the addiction and overdose epidemic we have seen time and time again tear people’s lives apart.”
“The fact that we arrested a chart-topping rap artist and a corrections officer as part of the conspiracy illustrates just how vile the drug trade has become,” FBI assistant director-in-charge Michael J. Driscoll said at the time.
Federal prosecutors have not yet filed their own sentencing recommendations.
Fetty Wap is spreading some holiday cheer and taking the meaning of giving to a meaty new level. The “My Way” MC hosted his “Sweet Yamz” Thanksgiving Giveaway in his hometown of Paterson, NJ on Tuesday (Nov. 22).
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The name of the giveaway is a play off Fetty Wap’s latest single, “Sweet Yamz.” The rapper partnered with Dr. Mills, the principal of College Achieve Paterson charter school, his family (including sister Divinity Maxwell and brother Rob McCoy) and frequent collaborator Monty to provide free food and groceries for everyone who attended the event.
“We are grateful for this contribution of Thanksgiving meals to our families,” Dr. Mills said in a press release. “Times are tough as people across the country are struggling with the rising cost of food. Once again, our community has risen to the occasion and given back to Paterson. Now, many who would have had to go without will be able to enjoy a wonderful holiday celebration with their families.”
Music was provided by New Jersey native and Hot 97’s very own DJ Drewski.
“I’m very grateful for my fans and for my community because I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Fetty Wap chimed in. “Giving back, especially in my hometown, is very important to me no matter what the circumstances are. Even though I can’t be there in person, shout-out to every single one of my fans, supporters, and everyone that’s still rocking with me!”
Fetty Wap has notched three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
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