Rapper Fetty Wap arrested in NYC in connection with federal drug charges

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Rapper Fetty Wap has been arrested in New York City, Fox News can confirm.

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, the rapper was named alongside five other defendants and is being charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances. 

A law enforcement source previously told Fox News on Friday that FBI agents arrested the rapper, whose real name is William Junior Maxwell II, on Thursday afternoon at CitiField in Queens, New York in connection with federal drug charges.

Fetty Wap is expected to be arraigned on the charge in the city Friday. According to the press release the rapper and Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey correction officer, Anthony Leonardi, his brother Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan and Kavaughn Wiggins are all facing charges. The five others also face charges of using firearms in connection with drug trafficking.

Fetty Wap has been arrested on drug charges in NYC. (Ollie Millington/Redferns)

They are accused of distributing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine across Long Island, and New Jersey from approximately June of 2019 to June of 2020. They allegedly obtained the narcotics on the West Coast and used the United States Postal service as well as drivers with hidden vehicle compartments to transport the drugs across the country.

Representatives for the rapper did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment. 

"The pipeline of drugs in this investigation ran thousands of miles from the West Coast to the communities here in our area, contributing to the addiction and overdose epidemic we have seen time and time again tear people's lives apart. The fact that we arrested a chart-topping rap artist and a corrections officer as part of the conspiracy illustrates just how vile the drug trade has become. I want to commend the work of our Long Island Gang Task Force and our law enforcement partners for working day in and day out to get these deadly drugs off our streets," stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

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"As alleged, the defendants transported, distributed and sold more than 100 kilograms of deadly and addictive drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, on Long Island, deliberately contributing to the opioid epidemic that has devastated our communities and taken too many lives," added United States Attorney Breon Peace. "We will continue to work nonstop with our law enforcement partners to keep our neighborhoods safe from the scourge of dangerous  drugs and gun violence."

This is far from the first time that Fetty Wap has been in legal trouble. Most recently, in 2019, he was arrested in Las Vegas over an alleged assault involving hotel workers. He was charged at the time with three counts of battery. The incident reportedly stems from an argument he got into with a parking attendant. Police initially said at the time that he struck an employee at the hotel. However, it was later said that he committed battery on three.

In 2017, he was arrested for an alleged DUI along with 14 other charges including reckless driving and operating a vehicle with an expired license. 

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At the time, he was allegedly spotted drag racing another vehicle on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn. TMZ reported at the time he was going over 100 mph in a 50 mph zone in his 2015 Mercedes-Benz. The specific model was not identified, but Maxwell has owned several of the company's high-performance cars.

Fetty Wap's arrest in NYC is still under  a sealed idictment. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

New York Police Department spokesman Sgt. Thomas Antonetti told the Associated Press that Maxwell was pulled over and registered a blood-alcohol level of .09. The legal limit in New York is .08.

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This latest arrest comes during a difficult year for the rapper. In August, it was revealed that his 4-year-old daughter, Lauren Maxwell, had died. The child’s mother, Turquoise Miami, confirmed the news of her death in a public Instagram. 

Fetty Wap has been arrested on federal drug charges. (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

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"This is my amazing, beautiful, funny, vibrant, loving, talented, smart and hardheaded princess mermaid Aquarius," she wrote at the time.