Summary: Hip-hop artist Nelly is facing drug-related charges.
After a state trooper pulled over rapper Nelly’s private bus in Tennessee, what began as a vehicle problem escalated into drug charges. Nelly and five others were pulled over on Interstate 40 in Putnam County this Saturday for lacking U.S. Department of Transportation and International Fuel Tax Association stickers. The officer, however, smelled marijuana.
Nor did his nose deceive him, for upon searching the bus, troopers discovered “five colored crystal-type rocks that tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia,” as the police statement described the situation.
40-year-old rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, is denying guilt. His lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, appears nonplussed, saying he was “extremely confident that when the facts come out, Nelly will not be associated with the contraband that was allegedly discovered.”
To put the accent on the extremities of his confidence may sound peculiar, but as Rosenblum states, “there had been 15-20 people that had access to the bus prior to the stop,” nor is Nelly associated with “MDMA aka Molly or Ecstasy” which the lawyer says the troopers allegedly discovered.
Nelly nevertheless has been charged with felony possession for drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Their search also turned up several handguns.
Nelly was taken to Putnam County Jail and later posted bond and left.