"Racism is real especially in my state"- Rapper Bankroll Freddie issues statement after receiving 12.5 year prison sentence

Well-known rapper Bankroll Freddie was sentenced to 12.5 years on several charges associated with his arrest in 2022. A press release from the US Attorney's Office on Friday, November 1, stated that he was accused of marijuana possession and distribution, firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, and using a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The verdict was given by US District Judge James M. Moody, Jr., and Freddie has been ordered to 3 years of supervised release. He is also told to pay a $242,000 judgment as part of the conviction.

Meanwhile, Bankroll Freddie spoke up on his sentencing through a statement shared on Instagram on November 4, 2024, with a photo featuring him. The audio of Lil Baby's song The Bigger Picture was even added to the background and started by writing that he won't spend time in prison for the marijuana and gun charges. He also wrote:

"These Prosecutors And Judges Have A Vendetta Against Me In My State For Fighting Them… Every Charge I Beat On My Case They Gave Me Upward Variance … If That's The Case I Could Of Just Copied The Plea For Less Time Then That Come On Make It Make Sense… The Judge & Prosecutors Mad I Went To Trial & Beat 7 Out Of 10 Charges & I Didn't Bow Down To Them."

Bankroll Freddie mentioned that the punishment given to him is "cruel & unusual", adding that he has 5 children who love him a lot. He stated that he was going to fight against the system and continued:

"Its People With Way Worser Charges Then Me Criminal History Terrible & Got Less Time Then Me This Is Personal They Got Some Personal Against Me & This Ain't Right … We Gotta Stand Up. Racism Is Real Especially In My State Arkansas… Its People Got Less Time For Murder Than I Got For Marijuana."

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Bankroll Freddie was reportedly leading a gang involved in criminal activities

Also known as Freddie Demarus Gladney III, he was taken into custody in April 2022 at Interstate 55 in Arkansas. Bankroll Freddie was transported to the Crittenden County Detention Center and the legal issue emerged when the Arkansas State Police Department stopped him for speeding.

During a search conducted by the police officers, they found some firearms, and one of them was revealed to be a "ghost gun" since it was privately made. Other items discovered at the time included 7 ammunition magazines, a bag full of marijuana, and cash worth $33,662.

Moreover, Freddie was indicted in May last year which was linked to an investigation conducted by the FBI. The investigation was aimed towards a gang known as Every Body Killas (EBK), resulting in the arrest of Bankroll's father Freddie Gladney Jr., and 34 other people.

The 30-year-old was accused of allegedly leading a criminal activity with five or more people, leading to a 4-level increase in his sentencing, as per the press release from the US Attorney's Office.

Furthermore, there was a 2-level increase for making a call while on probation to a codefendant in 2021, instructing the removal of guns alongside items for weighing drugs from his house in Helena.

Bankroll Freddie's sentencing was even expanded by 2.5 years due to the "ghost gun" found during his arrest in 2022. Judge James M. Moody, Jr. also found that the gun was in a condition to get a switch or already had one, which could change it to a fully automatic firearm.

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Bankroll's first major project was a mixtape, Saved by the Bales, released in 2019. Following the release of two more mixtapes, his debut album Big Bank came out in 2021.