Meek Mill Off Probation, Criminal Case Closed
Meek Mill is officially a free man today.
The rapper pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to possessing a firearm without a license, the case originally being from 2007. Prosecutors have dropped all other charges that led to a long legal battle spanning over a decade. “I know this has been a long road for you and hopefully this will be the end of it,” Judge Leon Tucker told the rapper, reports NBC.
The negotiated plea comes after both sides questioned the credibility of the arresting officer who testified in the case. The defense also accused the trial judge of bias for sending the rapper back to prison for minor probation violations.
A grateful Meek addressed his supporters outside the court. “I want to thank everybody who ever stood for me out here, all the supporters and people who came out and supported me through the ups and downs, in and out of the system,” he said while standing in front of a banner that said “#Justice4Millions.” “I’m very thankful from the bottom of my heart—everybody that ever mentioned my name or said ‘Free Meek’ helped me get to this position.”
In 2008, Meek was convicted on drug and gun charges. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison and released early on five years’ parole. In 2017, he was sentenced to two to four years for violating parole on the 2008 conviction. He served five months before the case was overturned.