Rapper Fetty Wap pleads guilty to federal drug charge

Hip-hop artist Willie Junior Maxwell II — better known as Fetty Wap — faces at least five years in a prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine during a hearing  in Central Islip federal court. 

Maxwell acknowledged during a plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Locke that he participated in a scheme in early 2020 to acquire more than 500 grams of cocaine and distribute it on Long Island and New Jersey. 

Maxwell’s plea deal does not require him to testify against other defendants in the sprawling federal drug case, according to his attorney, Elizabeth Macedonio of New York. Maxwell and his co-defendants had been charged with conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between June 2019 and 2020, but Mawell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine only. 

Prosecutors said the “Trap Queen” rapper and his co-defendants used the U.S. Postal Service and cars with hidden compartments to move drugs from the West Coast to Long Island, where they were stored for distribution to dealers on Long Island and in New Jersey.  He was arrested by FBI agents on Oct. 28 at Citi Field in Queens, where he was scheduled to perform at the Rolling Loud music festival.

“He is not cooperating,” Macedonio said after Monday’s hearing. “There is no special deal here.” 

The plea agreement must be approved by U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Macedonio requested that the sentencing hearing be expedited because Maxwell has been held in the special housing unit at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since Locke revoked his bail three weeks ago. 

Macedonio said the U.S. Marshals and Bureau of Prisons have not explained why Maxwell has been held in solitary confinement. She said Maxwell does not pose a threat to anyone else at the facitlity and is not in danger himself. 

“He is being held in the harshest of conditions,” Macedonio said. 

Maxwell appeared to be in good spirits in court, smiling and telling supporters who sat behind him in the gallery of the federal court room that he loved them. 

Locke revoked Maxwell’s $500,000 bond on Aug. 8 after the rapper allegedly flashed a weapon and threatened to kill a man during a Dec. 11 FaceTime call. According to federal prosecutors, Maxwell allegedly told a person identified only as "John Doe," “Imma kill you and everybody you with,” while holding a gun and pointing it toward the man. 

Maxwell could be sentenced to as much as 40 years in prison and also faces fines up to $5 million, officials said.

Prosecutors identified the other defendants as New Jersey correction Officer Anthony Cyntje, of Passaic; Anthony Leonardi, of Coram; his brother Robert Leonardi, of Levittown, Pennsylvania; Brian Sullivan, 26, of Lake Grove; and Kavaughn Wiggins, known as "KV," 26, of Coram. 

They were also charged with using firearms in connection with a drug trafficking crime. Cyntje pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, and use of firearms in connection with a drug trafficking crime. Robert Leonardi, also in June, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, authorities said.

Maxwell rose to prominence after “Trap Queen,” his debut single, reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015.