Boosie Badazz has reason to celebrate. The rapper avoided prison time on Friday, Jan. 9, when he was sentenced in a federal weapons case in San Diego, California.
Prosecutors had asked for two years in prison. Instead, U.S. District Judge Cathy Bencivengo handed down a sentence of time served, three years of supervised release, and ordered the rapper to pay a $50,000 fine and perform 300 hours of community service.
In a statement to Urban Hollywood 411, Boosie’s attorney Meghan Blanco said the Louisiana rapper, born Torrence Hatch Jr., can now get on with his life.
“The resolution brings a sense of relief, allowing him to finally put this chapter behind him. He can now focus on continuing his music career, dedicating time to his family, and being a positive and inspiring presence for his children and the wider community,” Blanco said.
Meantime U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon issued a statement saying, “Our office remains committed to enforcing federal firearm laws to protect public safety and ensure that prohibited individuals are held accountable when they violate those laws.”
The “Bankroll” rapper’s legal saga started in May 2023. At the time, he was in San Diego filming a music video and preparing for a nightclub performance.
The San Diego Police Department said the video shoot took place at a residence associated with a “known neighborhood Crip.”
The house was being monitored by officers conducting “intelligence gathering” on social media, police said, as previously reported.
When someone at the house began streaming live on Instagram, police kept close watch and said they learned details from the stream.
The livestream showed a man with a handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants while filming in the backyard of the residence. Prosecutors later identified the man as Boosie.
After his sentencing earlier today, the Justice Department sent out a screengrab showing a gun tucked into Boosie’s red pants.
Boosie, 43, initially pleaded not guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Prosecutors said he had prior convictions in Louisiana on gun and drug charges.
The state charges were dropped, but federal prosecutors pursued the case, arguing Boosie violated federal law by possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Court documents included screengrabs from the Instagram livestream, showing Boosie outside the house with several other men.
“Hatch is seen filming himself and other unidentified individuals saying ‘Neighborhood’ repeatedly and making hand gestures towards the camera… these hand gestures are gang signs associated with specific gang affiliations,” the court documents read.
When Boosie left the house, SDPD used a helicopter to track the SUV he was in. Police said officers observed the vehicle “fail to stop at a red stop signal while making a westbound turn.”
“The rear passenger side occupant was identified as Hatch. Hatch identified the other occupant in the rear seat as his ‘security,'” court documents read.
The documents said officers found a Hellcat 9-millimeter caliber pistol, ammunition, and a Glock-19 handgun, which was later determined to have been involved in “interstate commerce.” All three men were taken into custody. Boosie was carrying $16,854 cash. It’s unclear if or when the money was returned to the rapper.
Prosecutors said investigators determined “Hatch’s DNA was found on both firearms, and that the firearms were purchased by Hatch’s girlfriend in Georgia.”
Boosie changed his plea to guilty on Aug. 26, 2025.
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