Fetty Wap, the "Trap Queen" rapper, has been released from prison early after serving nearly three years of a six-year sentence for a federal drug charge. On January 8th, his reps confirmed to Billboard that he had returned home, and he shared a heartfelt statement expressing his gratitude to his family, friends, and fans for their love, prayers, and continued support.
"I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support—it truly means everything to me," Fetty (real name Willie Junior Maxwell II) said in a statement. "Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation. I'm committed to supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves."
The 34-year-old rapper also confirmed the news on his Instagram Stories with a simple "HOME."
Fetty was arrested in October 2021 on charges of distributing narcotics, including cocaine and heroin, across Long Island and New Jersey. He pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in August 2022. In May 2023, the "679" artist was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and five years of post-release supervision, which he served at a low-security prison in Sandstone, Minn. His release date was last moved up to November 8th of this year, according to the Bureau of Prisons records viewed by E! News.
During his sentencing hearing in 2023, Fetty publicly apologized for his actions. "I hurt my community, people who look up to me, my family and myself," he said, according to NBC News. "I am truly sorry for any pain I caused."
Two months before his arrest, Fetty experienced another difficult moment when he mourned the death of his 4-year-old daughter Lauren Maxwell, who he shared with Turquoise Miami. During an Instagram Live at the time, the "My Way" rapper kissed a picture of his daughter and asked viewers to comment with "all butterflies" since it was something "she loved."
"If you could do that," Fetty said in a clip of the Live. "That would mean a lot to me."
