Hours after news broke that Kodak Black could be facing up to 10 years in prison stemming from his latest arrest, the rapper has now officially entered a not guilty plea.
On Wednesday (May 15), the Florida native pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges. He was arrested ahead of his schedule performance last weekend at the annual Rolling Loud festival in Miami.
In addition to entering the not guilty plea, U.S. U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres also granted the rapper’s release on a $550,000 bond with mandatory house arrest. However, according to reports, the other criminal cases he’s facing could keep him behind bars.
As reported by ABC News, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Brown said the 21-year-old was out on bail awaiting trial in his sexual assault case in South Carolina, which could result in his bail being revoked.
“Wherever he goes, your honor, there’s going to be guns, drugs and shootings,” prosecutors said in court, noting that Black may also be at risk of fleeing.
In the indictment for the rapper’s weapons case, stemming from his May 11 arrest, it says on two separate occasions, he falsely filled out federal forms to buy weapons, checking the “no” box on the application asking if he was under indictment. As previously reported, he was in fact indicted on charges of first-degree criminal assault charges when buying weapons at Lou’s Police Distributors in Hialeah, Florida.
According to Black’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, the rapper’s $600,000 Florida home will be used as collateral for the Florida bond. He also noted that his client turned himself in upon learning there was a warrant out for his arrest.
“He showed up. He went into custody. There was no problem,” Cohen said.
On top of the latest weapon charges in Florida and the allegations of sexual assault he’s facing in South Carolina, Black is also facing pending drug and weapons charges due to a recent arrest in New York when crossing the U.S. border from Canada. The case is also still pending.
In the new weapons case, Black is facing a possible 10 years behind bars, as well as a $250,000 fine.