Rapper Nelly Avoids Drug Charges After Arrest at Casino

Rapper Nelly will avoid drug charges following an arrest at a casino in the St. Louis-area, of Missouri over the summer, prosecutors said this week.
In a statement on Tuesday, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said he declined to press drug charges on Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II.
“We don’t believe the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges,” Bell said in the statement.
Nelly, who grew up in St. Louis, is 49 years old. His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, contends that the search resulting in the rapper’s August arrest was unjustified.
Bell’s office provided no further details on the decision to drop the charges. In an email to The Associated Press, Rosenblum said the outcome came after “a fair and impartial review of the evidence.”
The Case Against Nelly
Nelly was taken into custody at 4:45 a.m. local time on August 7 while claiming several jackpots at Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Maryland Heights, Missouri. A state trooper stationed at the casino informed the rapper that a warrant check was required for gamblers winning above a certain threshold.
However, Rosenblum disputes this, saying no such check is mandated.
The background check revealed an outstanding warrant issued in December related to a 2018 citation for driving without proof of insurance. As a result, Nelly was arrested and searched, during which the officer reportedly found four ecstasy pills. Police subsequently recommended a felony charge for possession of a controlled substance.
The insurance charge has since been resolved, with Rosenblum confirming it was dismissed after Nelly provided proof of active car insurance.
Who Is Nelly
A three-time Grammy winner, Nelly is best known for chart-topping hits like “Hot in Herre” and “Just A Dream.” With four No. 1 singles and nine Billboard Music Awards to his name, he has also made appearances in numerous films and television series.
Nelly took home Grammy Awards in 2002 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Male Solo Rap Performance, with his album Nellyville earning nominations for both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year. In 2003, he won another Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the hit “Shake Ya Tailfeather.”
Earlier this month, Nelly performed in Phoenix, Arizona, to close out the 2024 NASCAR season.
“We’re ecstatic to have Nelly help us close out the 2024 NASCAR season in style,” Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey previously said.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.