Rapper Boosie Badazz was set to be released from prison in San Diego, after a judge granted him bail on Tuesday in his federal weapons possession case.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Goddard told the rapper that once released from prison, he would not be allowed to travel outside of the United States and must return to court next week for another hearing, City reported. News Service.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California had opposed the rapper’s bail, saying the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was a danger to the community and a flight risk.
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The rapper’s attorney, Meghan Blanco, has countered that her client complied with state rules in the case that led to his federal arrest.
Boosie, born Torrence Hatch Jr., was originally arrested May 6, after San Diego police deemed him an associate of a “known” gang member, as previously reported.
According to the unsealed federal complaint, a police detective was “conducting intelligence gathering” by viewing the Instagram account of a “known neighborhood Crip”, when the detective noticed footage of a man “shooting a music video “.
Boosie was tagged in the video, and the sleuth began monitoring the rapper’s Instagram Live feed.
The complaint says the detective noticed Boosie was broadcasting live from a location allegedly “associated with the criminal street gang Neighborhood Crip.”
The complaint states that the detective saw a gun slipped into the waistband of the rapper’s pants.
Police sent a helicopter to the scene and Boosie was seen getting into an SUV. Ground officers followed the vehicle and stopped it after the driver allegedly ran a red light.
The complaint said officers asked about weapons, and Boosie said a security guard was armed. During a search of the vehicle, officers found two loaded firearms, including the “same gun pictured in Hatch’s rear seatbelt” during the filming of the music video, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors also said a police officer overheard Boosie threatening the security guard not to be held responsible for the guns.
Boosie was arrested on a state weapons charge, but the local case was dismissed on June 14.
As soon as he left court, the rapper was arrested on a new federal charge, with prosecutors saying he violated federal laws prohibiting a convicted felon from owning a firearm.
Boosie had a previous felony conviction in his home state of Louisiana for drug trafficking.
The rapper’s attorney said the San Diego police response of more than 14 officers and a helicopter was excessive for a felon in possession of a firearm. The attorney added that while Boosie was locked up over the weekend, he lost $160,000 that he allegedly earned from performances.