Rapper Kodak Black was taken into custody this week on a drug trafficking allegation in central Florida, marking another legal entanglement for the artist. The musician, known officially as Bill Kapri, was detained at the Orange County jail on Wednesday for a felony charge related to trafficking MDMA, a synthetic substance commonly referred to as ecstasy or molly.
In response, Kapri submitted a written plea of innocence and requested a jury trial on Thursday. Additionally, he opted out of appearing in person for a forthcoming arraignment hearing in state court.
The arrest of Kapri came after a police incident in December in an Orlando neighborhood where law enforcement was alerted to gunfire sounds. Upon arrival, officers discovered a group congregated near high-end vehicles, with Kapri among them, as detailed in a police report.
During the inspection, an officer observed a white substance on a $100 bill within a Lamborghini SUV, which emitted a cannabis odor, prompting a search of the vehicle. This search revealed a pink bag containing a plastic package of MDMA, $37,000 US currency, and several documents bearing Kapri’s name, according to the police report.
The distinctive pink bag resembled one depicted in a photo shared by Kapri on his Instagram account, and it also contained a unique lighter featured in the same image, as per investigators.
Despite everyone present denying ownership of the bag, including Kapri, he asserted that the money belonged to his business and requested its return.
Representatives Ambrosia Healy and Kevin Young from Universal Music Group, who represent Kapri, did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Following his arrest, Kapri was released on bail the same night, confirmed by a spokesperson from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Kapri has grappled with legal troubles previously. In 2023, authorities in Plantation, Fla., apprehended Kapri after discovering him asleep in a vehicle with a white substance near his mouth, initially suspected to be cocaine but later identified as oxycodone through lab testing, for which Kapri had a valid prescription.
This incident constituted a breach of his probation from an unrelated case, resulting in a two-month confinement in Miami.
Moreover, in 2022, Kapri was arrested on charges related to trafficking oxycodone and possessing a controlled substance without a prescription. He was released on bond under the condition of routine drug screenings. Court records indicate that Kapri was mandated to attend a 30-day drug rehabilitation program in 2023 after missing a drug test and subsequently testing positive for fentanyl.
In January 2021, former President Donald Trump commuted Kapri’s three-year federal prison sentence for falsifying documents to purchase firearms, with the artist having served approximately half of his term.
Under his alias Kodak Black, Kapri has amassed over 30 million single sales, including popular tracks like “Super Gremlin,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022.
