Boosie Badazz has officially pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm — a case he once thought was behind him.
The rapper, 42, appeared in court on Tuesday, Aug. 26, where he entered the plea. He is now scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21. According to his plea agreement, prosecutors recommend a 24-month prison sentence, though the ultimate decision rests with the judge. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The agreement calls for three years of supervised release and prison time, though prosecutors said they will not pursue any fines, citing the rapper’s “limited financial prospects.”
The charges go back to May 2023, when Boosie was arrested during a traffic stop in Chula Vista, a neighborhood near San Diego. Authorities allege he had flown in from Georgia earlier that day, carrying handguns with him on a Delta Air Lines flight.
Police first spotted the rapper on an Instagram Live feed, where they noticed a firearm tucked into his waistband. After tracking him by helicopter, officers pulled him over and discovered a pistol in his vehicle.
Boosie’s case has taken more than a few twists and turns. Originally charged at the state level, those charges were quickly dropped before federal prosecutors stepped in.
At one point, the case was even dismissed in 2024 after a court ruling found it unconstitutional to charge nonviolent offenders with being felons in possession of firearms. But after the verdict was overturned, prosecutors refiled the case. A separate drug-related charge was also added before eventually being dropped under the plea deal.
Boosie addressed his decision to take the plea earlier this month, telling fans on social media:
“JUST ACCEPTED A PLEA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MY GUN CASE. I THOUGHT THIS CASE WAS OVER N I WAS GOING TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE BUT ‘GOD DONT MAKE MISTAKES’ N IM TIRED OF FIGHTING.”
Speaking outside the courthouse Tuesday, the 42-year-old said he’s ready to move forward: “I want to put it behind me. I want to get it behind me and get on with my life. You know, it’s a lot of things this case has stopped me from doing, traveling all across the world, so I just want to get it over with.”
In a recent interview, he also noted that while the case has been draining, he trusts the judge overseeing his case — something he says hasn’t always been true in past experiences with Louisiana courts.
Boosie’s lawyer, Meghan Blanco, said she’s hopeful the outcome will allow him to return to his career and personal life. “He wanted nothing more than to accept responsibility and put this behind him, and now it’s my job to make sure the court understands the scope of the case and, more importantly, all of the amazing things that Mr. Hatch has done for the community and continues to do,” she said.
Boosie will remain free on a $100,000 bond until his sentencing, which is set for Nov. 21, 2025. While prosecutors will recommend a two-year sentence, the judge has the final say and could impose less or more time.
The rapper’s felony record dates back to a 2011 drug conviction, which makes it illegal for him to own or carry firearms under federal law.
