An identification test at a Missouri on line casino led to an arrest for ecstasy possession for rapper Nelly in Wednesday’s early morning hours.
The 49-year-old rapper allegedly had 4 ecstasy tablets and was taken into custody by the Missouri State Freeway Patrol at 4:45 a.m. at Hollywood On line casino in St. Charles. An identification-verification test is regular beneath the state’s gaming legislation, in accordance with studies, and officers discovered an arrest warrant for the three-time Grammy winner for lack of insurance coverage after a earlier freeway cease. The tablets have been then discovered throughout a search.
Nelly, actual identify Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was later booked into the Maryland Heights Police Division and earlier than being launched.
Rapper Responds
Nelly’s legal professional, Scott Rosenblum, instructed The New York Submit that Nelly was unfairly focused “by an overzealous, out-of-line officer” and that the identification test solely got here after he received whereas playing on the property.
“After successful a number of jackpots, at a venue the place Mr. Haynes ceaselessly visits and entertains at its amphitheater; as a substitute of simply supervising the switch of Mr. Haynes’ winnings, this officer felt compelled to needlessly run a test for warrants,” Rosenblum stated.
“The officer knowledgeable Mr. Haynes a background test was mandated when a participant received over a certain quantity; Mr. Haynes knew this to be unfaithful as he had received a number of jackpots for related or larger quantities together with one only a week prior with out incident or a background test.”
Rosenblum additionally famous that Nelly commonly undergoes FBI background checks to journey internationally and that features proof of no excellent arrest warrants.
Rosenblum instructed the Submit that the officer “felt compelled to handcuff Mr. Haynes behind his again and parade him via the on line casino in entrance of different patrons” and “performed a search with out possible trigger the place he claimed to have discovered alleged ‘ecstasy’ in Mr. Haynes’ private property.”
He famous that the case will in the end “go nowhere” and can search an investigation into the officer’s conduct.
The rapper has been noticed over time at quite a few poker festivals all around the world, together with the WSOP, and has even carried out at just a few on-line poker-sponsored participant events. In truth, Nelly was available for the Venetian poker site’s grand re-opening ceremony in Las Vegas simply final week, and even took half within the first hand dealt.
There was additionally an incident on the Mohegan Solar On line casino in Connecticut again in 2020.
