Rapper Nelly Arrested for Drug Possession

Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was arrested early on August 7, 2024, in Missouri.

The arrest took place around 4:45 a.m. after he was pulled over for driving without insurance. During the stop, authorities reportedly discovered ecstasy.

Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, has criticized the arrest, claiming that Nelly was “targeted by an overzealous, out of line officer.”

Rosenblum insists that Nelly was not charged with drug possession, and that the arrest stemmed from a warrant related to a lack of insurance from 2018, of which Nelly was reportedly unaware.

Rosenblum argues that the arrest was unfair and highlights that Nelly regularly undergoes checks for warrants without any previous issues.

Before the arrest, Nelly was enjoying his time at the Hollywood Casino and Hotel in St. Louis, where he reportedly won several jackpots.

Rosenblum alleges that the officer chose to run a warrant check instead of supervising the transfer of winnings, and conducted a search without probable cause, which allegedly led to the discovery of the ecstasy.

Rosenblum expressed confidence that the case will not progress and has called for an investigation into the officer’s conduct. This incident follows recent revelations about Nelly’s personal life.

He and singer-songwriter Ashanti, 43, recently announced their secret marriage. The couple, who rekindled their relationship in 2023, had been married for months before publicly sharing their engagement and news of an impending baby.