Los Angeles rapper Drakeo the Ruler is getting released from prison after striking a plea deal with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, journalist Jeff Weiss reports. Drakeo’s attorney, John Hamasaki, confirmed to Pitchfork that his client will be released due to time served. Hamasaki also said Drakeo will be given five years of formal probation.
Drakeo was on trial for charges of criminal gang conspiracy and shooting from a motor vehicle. Jeff Weiss told The FADER that Drakeo pled guilty to shooting from a motor vehicle with a gang enhancement, while the criminal street gang conspiracy was dismissed.
“Drakeo has been put through hell over the last three years,” Hamasaki said in a statement to Pitchfork. “After one day of trial the prosecutors approached us about a time served offer. Drakeo will be home to his family in the next few hours. It is a good day for Drakeo and rap music.”
Pitchfork has also reached out to representatives for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
In July 2019, Drakeo the Ruler was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder in relation to a 2016 incident that left a 24-year-old man dead. He was also acquitted on five attempted murder charges, but convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury was hung on related counts of criminal street gang conspiracy and shooting from a motor vehicle, which led to his new trial.
In June, Drakeo released Thank You for Using GTL, having recorded his vocals from a jail phone while detained at Los Angeles County’s Men’s Central Jail.
Read “How Drakeo the Ruler Recorded an Amazing-Sounding Album From Jail” on the Pitch.