Rapper Boosie Badazz Pleads Guilty Federal Gun Charge

Rapper Boosie Badazz pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a May 2023 arrest in San Diego, where police found two guns in a vehicle he was riding in. Originally facing state charges and expecting a probation sentence, the case was dismissed and then taken up by federal prosecutors after a controversial appeals court ruling on felon gun possession was overturned by a larger panel. Boosie, whose real name is Torence Ivy Hatch Jr., previously was convicted of marijuana possession in Louisiana and was acquitted of a murder-for-hire charge in 2012. His plea deal includes the government recommending a 24-month prison sentence, although the judge will make the final sentencing decision in November 2025. The rapper expressed his desire to move on from the case, emphasizing the impact it has had on his life and career, while his legal team highlighted his charitable work and community involvement. This plea concludes a complex legal saga involving constitutional questions about gun rights for nonviolent offenders and multiple court rulings.