Fetty Wap is Released Early from Prison After Three Years on Drug Charges

Fetty Wap in Newark in November 2021.
Credit:

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

KEY INFORMATION

• Fetty Wap has been released from prison early.
• The rapper served over three years of a six-year sentence at FCI Sandstone, a low-security facility in Minnesota, and was subsequently transferred to home confinement in Philadelphia.
• He pleaded guilty in August 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, resulting in a sentence handed down in May 2023.

Fetty Wap, 34, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was released from prison on Thursday, January 8. He had spent over three years serving his sentence at FCI Sandstone, a low-security facility in Minnesota, according to reports from Billboard and The New York Post.

In August 2022, the rapper pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to controlled substances and received a six-year prison sentence in May 2023. Following his early release, he expressed gratitude to his supporters. “I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support — it truly means everything to me,” said Maxwell in a statement. “Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation, supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves. I’m committed to moving forward with purpose and making a meaningful impact where it matters most.”

Maxwell confirmed his release via Instagram Stories with a simple message reading, “HOME” in bold white text on a black background. Following his transfer to home confinement in Philadelphia, the Bureau of Prisons indicated that he is expected to be released from oversight custody on November 8. For the next five years, he will face restrictions, including mandated drug testing and limitations on financial activities, such as opening new bank accounts, as well as prohibitions on consuming substances like alcohol unless prescribed by a doctor.

Fetty Wap released from prison.

Fetty Wap/Instagram

During sentencing in 2023, Maxwell expressed remorse, stating, “Me being selfish in my pride put me in this position today,” according to the Associated Press. His defense argued that his involvement in drug selling stemmed from financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, prosecutors contended that he leveraged his fame to glamorize the drug trade for impressionable youth.

The artist faced further legal troubles prior to his 2023 sentencing when his bail was revoked in August 2022. Prosecutors claimed he threatened to kill a man during a FaceTime call, violating the terms of his pretrial release. He was initially charged along with five others for conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances in October 2021, a case that involved the distribution of over 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey from June 2019 to June 2020. The group obtained narcotics from the West Coast and employed the U.S. Postal Service, using drivers with hidden compartments in their vehicles to transport the drugs.

The U.S. Department of Justice characterized Maxwell as a significant player in the drug trafficking organization, referring to him as a “kilogram-level redistributor.” Michael Driscoll, FBI assistant director-in-charge, commented, “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.”