Rapper Nelly arrested for ecstasy possession at Missouri casino
Nelly was arrested at a local casino on Wednesday morning in the St. Louis area, The Post confirmed with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The rapper, 49, was taken into custody for possession of four ecstasy pills and for not having car insurance.
A spokesperson with the highway patrol told us that Nelly was arrested inside the Hollywood Casino in St. Charles, Missouri, at 4:45 a.m. after an identification-verification check was run on the three-time Grammy winner. This is something that is occasionally done in Missouri casinos in accordance with the state’s gaming commission regulations.
Highway patrol found an outstanding warrant for lack of insurance from a previous highway stop. When officers searched Nelly — whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. — they discovered the ecstasy pills on him.
The spokesperson shared that highway patrol was already onsite at the casino, again in accordance with the Missouri Gaming Commission’s regulations. They explained that several things can trigger the verification check; however, they don’t believe it was triggered by any criminal activity on Nelly’s part.
He was booked at the Maryland Heights Police Department and later released.
The Post can confirm that Nelly has not been charged, but he will likely face the music with prosecutors when the police submit the paperwork. It will be up to the prosecutors whether to bring charges against him.
The rapper — known for such early-2000s hits as “Hot in Herre,” “Ride Wit Me,” “Pimp Juice” and “Country Grammar” — appeared to smirk in his mug shot while wearing a black hoodie with a white shirt and diamond chain.
His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, told The Post that Nelly was “targeted by an overzealous, out of line officer.”
“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,” the lawyer shared in the statement.
“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 continued.
He claimed that the officer “felt compelled to handcuff Mr. Haynes behind his back and parade him
through the casino in front of other patrons” and then “conducted a search without probable cause where he claimed to have found alleged ‘ecstasy’ in Mr. Haynes’ personal property.”
Nelly’s attorney went to bat for him, stating, “It is also important to note, that Mr. Haynes, as part of the requirements to travel internationally, is regularly asked to supply proof of no warrants. Including FBI checks. There were none.”
He added, “I am 100% confident this case will go nowhere. And we will be asking for an inquiry into this
officer’s conduct.”
The Post has reached out to Missouri State Highway Patrol for comment.
Nelly secretly married his long-lost love Ashanti in December. They are is currently expecting their first child together, who is due this summer.
Ashanti confirmed the rumors that she was pregnant in April.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” the “Foolish” singer, 43, told Essence magazine at the time. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”
This baby will be Ashanti’s first and Nelly’s third. He’s also a father to daughter Chanelle, 29, and son Cornell Haynes III, 24, whom he has with his ex Channetta Valentine.
Nelly and Ashanti famously dated from 2003 to 2013 before they reunited last year.
In 2022, she shared with The Post why her relationship with Nelly didn’t last the first time.
“There were good times, and there were times where it was hard . . . just traveling so much and living in two different states,” Ashanti said. “Our careers were, like, taking off back then. It was really hard to try and just do everything.”
