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Fetty Wap is out of prison after serving three years behind bars. 

‘Trap Queen’ rapper is ‘moving forward with purpose’ 

The “Trap Queen” rapper – whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II – was serving a six-year sentence at a low-security federal facility in Sandstone, Minnesota. He was released on January 8.

“I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support — it truly means everything to me,” Fetty, 34, said in a statement to Billboard. “Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation, supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves. I’m committed to moving forward with purpose and making a meaningful impact where it matters most.”

Why was Fetty Wap in prison?

Fetty was arrested in October 2021 in New York City ahead of an appearance at Rolling Loud NYC. Authorities accused him of being part of a trafficking ring that moved drugs from California to New York. 

According to the Department of Justice, between June 2019 and June 2020, Maxwell and his five co-defendants distributed significant amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey. They obtained the drugs on the West Coast. They then used the postal service and drivers with hidden vehicle compartments to transport the drugs to Suffolk County in New York, where they were stored. Dealers then sold the drugs on Long Island and in New Jersey. Fetty was a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization.

After Fetty was indicted in 2021, he was released on a $500,000 bond. A few months later, he was arrested again for violating the terms of his bail. He had allegedly threatened to kill someone over FaceTime while displaying a firearm, NBC News reported.

In August 2022, the hip-hop star pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In May 2023, a judge sentenced him to six years in federal prison. He also received five years of post-release supervision. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Maxwell is now under the supervision of the Residential Reentry Management field office in Philadelphia until November 8, 2026. He was originally scheduled to be released from prison in December 2026. 

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