Kodak Black
| Bill Kapri (Kodak Black) | |
|---|---|
| Born: | June 11, 1997 Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Charges: | False statements to obtain firearms (federal), Multiple state charges |
| Sentence: | 46 months (commuted January 2021) |
| Facility: | Released January 2021 (commuted) |
| Status: | Released; completed supervised release |
Bill Kapri (born June 11, 1997), known professionally as Kodak Black, is an American rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida, who was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for making false statements to obtain firearms.[1] His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on January 19, 2021, as one of Trumps final acts in office. Kodak Black has had numerous encounters with the criminal justice system since his teenage years, including arrests for robbery, assault, weapons charges, and drug possession.[2]
Summary
Kodak Black rose to fame in the mid-2010s with hits including "Tunnel Vision" and "No Flockin." His musical success has been repeatedly interrupted by legal troubles beginning when he was a teenager. His federal conviction stemmed from lying on federal forms when purchasing firearms, but he has faced numerous other charges in Florida and elsewhere throughout his career.
Background
Bill Kapri was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, on June 11, 1997. He began rapping as a child and released his first mixtape at age 14. He gained national attention with the song "No Flockin" in 2014.
Legal History
Early Arrests
Kodak Blacks legal troubles began in October 2015 when he was arrested on charges including assault, robbery, kidnapping, and possession of marijuana. In December 2015, he was arrested again for marijuana possession.
South Carolina Sexual Assault
In February 2016, Kodak Black was charged with criminal sexual conduct in South Carolina. In April 2021, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree assault and battery and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.
Federal Firearms Conviction
In April 2019, Kodak Black was arrested at the Rolling Loud music festival for federal and state firearms violations. He had lied on official documents to purchase weapons. In November 2019, he pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He served time at USP Big Sandy and USP Thomson.[3]
Trump Commutation
On January 19, 2021, President Donald Trump commuted Kodak Blacks sentence. He was released from prison the following day.
Subsequent Issues
Following his release, Kodak Black has continued to face legal troubles, including arrests for drug possession and supervised release violations. In 2024, he was released from jail after a judge sentenced him to "time served" for violating supervised release terms. He was sentenced to one year of house arrest and five years of probation in 2025.[4]
See Also
References
- ↑ First Coast News, "Florida rapper Kodak Black sentenced 46-months in prison for making false statements to obtain firearms," https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/florida-rapper-kodak-black-sentenced-3-years-in-prison-for-making-false-statements-to-obtain-firearms/77-9e9c8c83-c749-4a40-9233-515f8f640086.
- ↑ Miami New Times, "A Timeline of Kodak Blacks Legal Troubles," https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/a-timeline-of-kodak-blacks-arrests-alleged-crimes-and-other-legal-troubles-11178496/.
- ↑ Wikipedia, "Kodak Black," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Black.
- ↑ Rolling Stone, "Kodak Black Released From Jail After Pleading to Probation Violation," https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kodak-black-florida-jail-release-1234972933/.