Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, will not be facing drug charges following his arrest at a St. Louis-area casino this summer. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced that they do not believe the facts in the case warrant the issuing of charges.
Nelly, 49, was arrested in the early hours of August 7 at Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The arrest occurred as Nelly was attempting to collect several jackpots he had won. A trooper informed Nelly that a warrant search is required when a gambler wins over a certain amount of money, leading to a background check that revealed an outstanding warrant from December related to a 2018 citation for operating a vehicle without proof of insurance.
As a result of the outstanding warrant, Nelly was arrested and searched, during which the officer allegedly found four ecstasy pills. Police had initially sought a charge of felony possession of a controlled substance. However, the insurance charge has since been resolved after Nelly provided proof of car insurance.
Nelly's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, argued that the search leading to Nelly's arrest was unwarranted. Rosenblum stated that no warrant check was required in such circumstances. Bell's office did not provide further details on the decision to not file charges, but Rosenblum mentioned that it followed a fair and impartial review of the evidence.
Nelly, a three-time Grammy Award winner known for hits like “Hot in Here” and “Just A Dream,” has had a successful music career with four No. 1 hits and nine Billboard Music Awards. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in various films and TV series. Nelly's accolades include Grammy wins for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Male Solo Rap Performance in 2002, as well as a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in the following year.
