Rapper Nelly Arrested At Missouri CasinoArrested While Trying To Cash Out Gambling Winnings |
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An identity check at a Missouri casino led to an arrest for ecstasy possession for rapper Nelly in Wednesday’s early morning hours.
The 49-year-old rapper allegedly had four ecstasy pills and was taken into custody by the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 4:45 a.m. at Hollywood Casino in St. Charles. An identification-verification check is normal under the state’s gaming law, according to reports, and officers found an arrest warrant for the three-time Grammy winner for lack of insurance after a previous highway stop. The pills were then found during a search.
Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was later booked into the Maryland Heights Police Department and before being released.
Rapper Responds
Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, told The New York Post that Nelly was unfairly targeted “by an overzealous, out-of-line officer” and that the identity check only came after he won while gambling at the property.
“After winning several jackpots, at a venue where Mr. Haynes frequently visits and entertains at its amphitheater; instead of just supervising the transfer of Mr. Haynes’ winnings, this officer felt compelled to needlessly run a check for warrants,” Rosenblum said.
“The officer informed Mr. Haynes a background check was mandated when a player won over a certain amount; Mr. Haynes knew this to be untrue as he had won several jackpots for similar or greater amounts including one just a week prior without incident or a background check.”
Rosenblum also noted that Nelly regularly undergoes FBI background checks to travel internationally and that includes proof of no outstanding arrest warrants.
Rosenblum told the Post that the officer “felt compelled to handcuff Mr. Haynes behind his back and parade him through the casino in front of other patrons” and “conducted a search without probable cause where he claimed to have found alleged ‘ecstasy’ in Mr. Haynes’ personal property.”
He noted that the case will ultimately “go nowhere” and will seek an investigation into the officer’s behavior.
The rapper has been spotted over the years at numerous poker festivals all over the world, including the WSOP, and has even performed at a few online poker-sponsored player parties. In fact, Nelly was on hand for the Venetian poker room’s grand re-opening ceremony in Las Vegas just last week, and even took part in the first hand dealt.
There was also an incident at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut back in 2020.
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