Fetty Wap, a New Jersey rapper who shot to fame along with his hit “Lure Queen,” an ode to a romance entangled within the drug commerce, was sentenced to 6 years in federal jail on Wednesday for trafficking narcotics throughout the nation.
The singer, whose authorized title is Willie Junior Maxwell II, 31, had been in custody since his bail was revoked in August, after prosecutors stated he had, whereas on a FaceTime name, displayed a firearm and threatened to kill somebody. He subsequently pleaded responsible to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or extra of cocaine.
On Wednesday, he appeared earlier than Choose Joanna Seybert on the federal courtroom in Central Islip, N.Y., to obtain a sentence one 12 months longer than the minimal. Mr. Maxwell waved to about 20 members of the family and pals who attended the sentencing as he entered the courtroom sporting a beige jumpsuit, his dreadlocks pulled again from his face.
His lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio, argued that Mr. Maxwell had been supporting many relations and youngsters and that he had wanted cash to maintain them as soon as the pandemic ended dwell leisure. Mr. Maxwell himself apologized to the communities and households of drug customers he harm.
“I solely ever wished to assist my household,” Mr. Maxwell advised the choose. “I by no means requested myself if it was all-the-way proper.”
Prosecutors had argued for a long term, saying that he had used his fame to “glamorize the drug commerce” whereas making hundreds of thousands from his music after “Lure Queen” was launched in 2015. They pointed to the usage of kids as extras within the tune’s music video and famous the ample media consideration the case had acquired.
Christopher Caffarone, a prosecutor, on Wednesday requested the choose to recollect the “collateral penalties” of drug abuse and identified that many individuals suffered throughout the pandemic, however “they didn’t flip to peddling poison.”
Choose Seybert known as the case one of the crucial tough she has needed to resolve in 30 years on the bench, noting that Mr. Maxwell overcame obstacles to attain “unbelievable fame” — solely to throw it away. She famous his loving, supportive household, a lot of whom had written to her, and his relationship to his kids. However his crime was critical, and his actions whereas out on bail raised critical questions, she stated.
“The factor you can’t escape is that there have been different decisions,” she stated.
In March, one among Mr. Maxwell’s co-defendants, Anthony Cyntje, a former New Jersey corrections officer, was sentenced to 6 years for performing as a courier of cocaine. Maxwell’s remaining 4 co-defendants pleaded responsible and are awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Maxwell, who hails from Paterson, N.J., and misplaced his left eye to congenital glaucoma, was on the top of his musical success when he was promoting medication. “Lure Queen,” that includes his distinctive mixture of singing and rapping, had reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Sizzling 100 chart in Might 2015. The music website Pitchfork described his “devilishly melodic singing voice” as a “warbling, lightning-shocked instrument.” He was nominated for 2 Grammys the next 12 months and appeared on the VH1 actuality present “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.”
In courtroom Wednesday, Ms. Macedonio laid out the obstacles Mr. Maxwell had beforehand confronted, together with fixed bullying due to his glaucoma and drug dependancy earlier than the beginning of his music profession with the group Remy Boyz. Then “Lure Queen” hit the airwaves.
“Instantly the child from Paterson, the child who was alleged to go nowhere, was within the nationwide highlight,” she stated.
She famous that the accusations solely concerned a six-month interval of exercise and accused the prosecutors of attempting to make use of his fame in opposition to him of their argument for an extended sentence, saying it confirmed “a whole disconnect” between legislation enforcement and the music world.
Since August, he has been held in protecting custody on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn, due to concern he could be focused for his fame.
After Mr. Maxwell’s arrest, he hustled to undertake as many gigs as potential to earn money for his household earlier than what he knew could be a prolonged jail sentence, she stated.
Even because the case was pending, Mr. Maxwell launched a gradual R&B jam known as “Candy Yams.” Prosecutors stated that was code for medication.
