American rapper Fetty Wap was, on Wednesday (May 24), sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a New York-based drug-trafficking scheme.

The rapper, whose legal name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was one of multiple defendants charged and found guilty of being part of an organisation that distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in Long Island and New Jersey.

As friends and family looked on, the rapper on Wednesday apologised for his actions and saying, “I am exactly where I’m supposed to be,” before a judge sentenced him to six years in federal prison for his role in the drug-trafficking scheme.

The Trap Queen rapper pleaded guilty in August 2022 to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

The sentence was handed down in federal court on Long Island.

Maxwell told US District Judge Joanna Seybert, “Me being selfish in my pride put me in this position today.” His lawyers had argued that the rapper turned to selling drugs because of financial hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maxwell was arrested at New York City’s Citi Field, home of the Mets baseball team, shortly before he was scheduled to perform a concert there in October 2021. 

He was initially released on bond, but has been in custody since August 2022, when his bail was revoked.

According to a news release from the US Department of Justice’s Eastern District of New York the rapper is to serve six years in prison and five years post-release supervision.

FIVE CO-CONSPIRATORS ARRESTED

In March, Seybert sentenced one of Maxwell’s co-conspirators, New Jersey corrections officer Anthony Cyntje, to 72 months in prison for his role in the crime.

The other four co-defendants — Anthony Leonardi, Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan, and Kavaughn Wiggins — have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. 

According to court filings, the six men distributed drugs between June 2019 and June 2020. The narcotics were obtained on the West Coast, then driven or mailed across the country to Suffolk County, New York.

Wiggins, Sullivan and the Leonardi participated in the purchase and transportation of the illicit substances, according to court filings.

From Suffolk County, the drugs were distributed to dealers who operated on Long Island and in New Jersey.  

Cyntje allegedly transported kilograms of cocaine from between the two regions. Maxwell was described as “kilogram-level redistributor” for the organisation. 

Search warrants executed during the investigation found about $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of heroin, fentanyl pills and multiple firearms.