St. Louis, Missouri – Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, was arrested on Wednesday, August 7, at approximately 5 a.m., according to records from the state patrol obtained by NBC News. The arrest took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where Nelly, 49, was charged with possession of four ecstasy pills, classified as a controlled substance, as well as for not having insurance.
After the arrest, Nelly was transferred to the Maryland Heights Police Department, reportedly due to an outstanding warrant related to a past traffic violation in the St. Louis area. He was subsequently released by the Maryland Heights Police Department, according to his arrest records.
Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, swiftly responded to the allegations, refuting claims of drug possession. Rosenblum clarified that Nelly was solely apprehended for “No Proof of Insurance” stemming from an incident in 2018, under a warrant issued in December 2023 which his client allegedly had not been notified about.
In a statement, Rosenblum criticized the actions of the arresting officer, accusing them of targeting Nelly unfairly. He asserted that the officer insisted on conducting a background check after Nelly won a significant amount at the casino where the arrest occurred, despite no such checks being conducted previously under similar circumstances. According to Rosenblum, this officer allegedly proceeded to parade Nelly through the casino and conducted a search without probable cause, claiming to find ecstasy in his possessions. Rosenblum indicated that they would seek an inquiry into the officer’s conduct.
This recent incident is not Nelly’s first encounter with legal issues. In October 2017, he was arrested following allegations of sexual assault by Monique Greene on his tour bus in Washington. The charges were dropped in September 2019 after Greene chose not to testify, maintaining that the encounter was consensual, as reported by People.
Additionally, in 2015, Nelly was detained by Tennessee state troopers on multiple drug charges, including felony possession. During the incident, troopers reportedly discovered drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia and firearms aboard a tour bus. Nelly ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, completing a diversion program which led to the dismissal of further charges.
In a separate development, Nelly and his wife Ashanti, also a singer, are anticipating the arrival of their first child, as announced by Ashanti during an April 2024 interview with Essence, expressing her joy in becoming a mother.
