On Thursday, a lawyer representing rapper Nelly told TMZ that an overzealous officer unjustly targeted his client after Nelly attempted to cash in several jackpots he won at a St. Louis casino early Wednesday. According to attorney Scott Rosenblum, an officer overseeing the transactions insisted on performing a background check before Nelly could collect his winnings. Nelly recognized this request as unfounded, citing numerous previous jackpots at the Hollywood Casino St. Louis where no such check was required.
Despite his objections, the background check was conducted, revealing a 2018 bench warrant for driving without insurance. Rosenblum argued that Nelly’s celebrity status led to his arrest rather than a simple citation for the minor infraction. After being led through the casino, Nelly’s belongings were searched without probable cause, which is when officers discovered four ecstasy pills.
The Missouri Highway Patrol, which staffs troopers from the state’s gaming division at the Hollywood Casino, claimed Nelly was arrested for felony drug possession. However, Rosenblum stated that his client had not been formally charged with drug possession and suggested that the incident might prompt an inquiry into the arresting officer’s conduct.
Earlier reports indicated that Nelly was taken into custody early Wednesday morning at the Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights, a suburb of St. Louis. Online arrest records show the 49-year-old was charged with possessing ecstasy, a controlled substance, and driving without insurance. His mug shot revealed visibly bloodshot eyes.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest report under Nelly’s legal name, Cornell I. Haynes Jr., confirmed he was detained at 4:45 a.m. due to a bench warrant stemming from a 2018 traffic summons for driving without insurance. During a search of his vehicle, officers found four ecstasy pills. Nelly was booked at the Maryland Heights Police Department and has since been released.
The Hollywood Casino St. Louis, operated by Penn Entertainment and owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties, boasts 120,000 square feet of gaming space, with 2,180 slot machines and 91 table games.
Nelly is currently on an active tour, having recently served as the opening act for Janet Jackson’s “Together Again” tour, which concluded the U.S. leg on July 30 at the Footprint Center in Arizona. His next solo performance is scheduled for August 30 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Wisconsin, followed by an appearance on September 1 at Wet Republic in Las Vegas.
Nelly has faced previous legal troubles. In 2001, he was arrested in St. Louis on drug-related charges for possessing a small amount of marijuana. In 2009, police found methamphetamine, marijuana, and a loaded firearm on Nelly’s tour bus during a traffic stop in Sierra Blanca, Texas. Nelly wasn’t charged for possessing the drugs but was cited for the contraband.
In October 2017, Nelly was arrested in Auburn, Washington, and charged with second-degree rape following allegations from Monica Greene, a 22-year-old college student who claimed she was assaulted on Nelly’s tour bus. Prosecutors dropped the criminal case due to Greene’s refusal to cooperate, although she later settled a civil lawsuit with Nelly for an undisclosed amount.
Nelly is married to R&B star Ashanti. The Grammy Award-winning artists first began dating in 2003, separated a decade later, and spent another decade apart before reuniting in September 2023. The couple is now expecting their first child together. Ashanti has not posted to her Instagram account since April when she announced her pregnancy.
