Meek Mill has had a tumultuous few years outside of the recording booth, but now all of that drama appears to be done.
NBC10 in Philadelphia is reporting that after 12 years, Meek Mill’s past legal problems have come to a close.
#Breaking: Rapper @MeekMill pleads guilty to gun charge from his 2007 arrest. Prosecutors drop all other charges and won't retry him, ending his 12-year legal saga. #MeekMill https://t.co/0EIi2udlnN pic.twitter.com/ixw8XdOFqi
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) August 27, 2019
This morning the Philly rapper pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm without a license and, subsequently, had all of the other charges against him dropped. It was a situation which ballooned almost immediately, garnering national attention, turning all eyes on the prison system and amplifying the calls for reform in the criminal justice system.
“I know this has been a long road for you and hopefully this will be the end of it,” said Judge Leon Tucker to Meek.
The rapper has been active in the pursuit of prison reform, speaking with entertainers, rappers, boxers like Bernard Hopkins and politicians about the situation plaguing so many, the Black community in particular. Due to his efforts over the years, coupled with his work in the community, prosecutors decided enough was enough in a a story which dragged out since he was first arrested in 2007 on drug and gun charges.
“He was adult enough to admit he had a gun, so we feel this is appropriate,” said prosecutors of ending the case.
Supporters and fellow reform advocates gathered outside of Center City’s Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice, cheering when they heard the news.
“Meek free,” declared the rapper. “I’m not on probation anymore.”
“I thank y’all, thanks for coming out and standing with me a thousand percent,” said Meek to the roar of the crowd.
It’s been a long, extremely grueling and challenging decade for Meek. Between the trials, accusations, questions of credibility and the situation surrounding Judge Brinkley, who appeared to have it in for the rapper. She convicted him in 2008, and called him back to court repeatedly. She even visited the homeless shelter where the rapper was serving his community service sentence to check up on him.
But that dilemma and harassment is over now, and Meek can move on with his life and career, and continue his efforts in the community and in the system with that drama off of his back.
“The past 11 years have been mentally and emotionally challenging, but I’m ecstatic that justice prevailed,” said Meek last month after his conviction was overturned. “Unfortunately, millions of people are dealing with similar issues in our country and don’t have the resources to fight back like I did. We need to continue supporting them.”
Meek free.
