Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., has recently found himself in legal trouble again. On August 7, 2024, the 49-year-old musician was arrested at the Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
Nelly’s Latest Legal Trouble
Nelly, a prominent figure in hip-hop and R&B since the 2000s, was taken into custody early on August 7. The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested him after discovering illegal ecstasy pills during a car search. The arrest followed an investigation by the Missouri Gaming Commission. After Nelly won a jackpot at the casino, authorities discovered an outstanding warrant related to a No Proof of Insurance infraction from 2018.
According to reports, the search of Nelly’s vehicle led to the discovery of the ecstasy pills, which resulted in drug possession charges. Nelly was booked at the Maryland Heights Police Department but was later released.
However, Nelly’s lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, has stated that Nelly was not charged with drug possession and had not been informed of the outstanding warrant, which he claims was issued in December 2023. Rosenblum criticized the Missouri Gaming Commission for conducting a background check after Nelly’s casino winnings, suggesting that this was unusual and possibly unfair. He also claimed the search of the vehicle was conducted without proper cause and described the arresting officer as “overzealous” and “out of line.”
Nelly and his legal team are calling for an investigation into the arresting officer’s conduct and the overall handling of the situation.
