Meek Mill Sentenced To 2 To 4 Years In Prison Following Probation Violation, Celebs React
The "All Eyes On You" rapper will be spending up to four years behind bars.
According to CBS News, Meek Mill (real name Robert Rihmeek Williams) received a two to four-year prison sentence by a Philadelphia judge on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The 30-year-old rapper, who had previously served eight months in jail, was charged with violating his five-year probation in 2009 following his conviction in a drug and gun case the year before.
"I've been trying to help you since 2009," Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley told Mill, who was arrested in August 2017 for reckless endangerment after driving a dirt bike in New York City traffic. The judge also cited a failed drug test, another unrelated arrest, and Mill's failure to adhere to court-ordered travel restrictions, for which he was placed on 90 days' house arrest in 2016. Although Mill's other charges had been dropped, the judge ultimately ruled that his arrests were violations of his probation. "You basically thumbed your nose at me," the judge continued.
In response, the "Amen" rapper said, "I may have made a mistake but I never had the intention of disrespecting you," adding that jail time would effectively end his music career.
As People reported, several of Mill's celebrity friends have come to his defense while also criticizing the legal system, including his recent collaborator Jay-Z. "The sentence handed down by the Judge — against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer — is unjust and heavy handed," he wrote on Facebook. "We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career."
The sentence handed down by the Judge — against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation...
Posted by JAY-Z on Monday, November 6, 2017
Meanwhile, Kevin Hart wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram. "Praying for my brother @meekmill right now," the comedian captioned a photo of the two. "God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers. I'm here for you man!!!! My brother for life...Always here for you man!!! This storm will pass...Stay strong & keep your head up 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾."
At the time of this writing, neither Mill nor his ex Nicki Minaj have publicly responded to his impending incarceration.