Rapper Kodak Black was taken into custody this week in central Florida on charges related to drug trafficking, marking another legal entanglement for the artist. Known by his real name, Bill Kapri, he was detained at Orange County jail on Wednesday for allegedly trafficking MDMA, a synthetic substance commonly known as ecstasy or molly.
Kapri formally pleaded not guilty and requested a trial by jury on Thursday. He opted out of physical presence at a forthcoming arraignment hearing in state court.
The arrest transpired subsequent to a police response in December to reports of gunfire in an Orlando neighborhood. Law enforcement officers encountered a gathering of individuals near upscale parked vehicles, among whom was Kapri, as detailed in a police report.
During the encounter, an officer observed a powdery substance on a $100 bill within a Lamborghini SUV that emitted a cannabis odor, prompting a search of the vehicle. The search uncovered a pink bag containing a plastic pouch of MDMA, $37,000 in U.S. currency, and various documents bearing Kapri’s name, according to the police report.
The distinctive pink bag resembled one featured in a photo shared by Kapri on his Instagram account. Investigators noted the presence of a unique lighter in the bag, matching one visible in the photo.
Despite everyone present disavowing ownership of the bag, including Kapri, the rapper claimed the seized 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.
Kapri was released on bail Thursday evening, according to a spokesperson from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
**Previous Legal Issues**
Kapri has encountered legal challenges before. In 2023, authorities in Plantation, Fla., apprehended him after discovering him asleep in his car with traces of a white substance around his mouth. Although the substance initially tested positive for cocaine, subsequent lab analysis revealed it to be oxycodone, a medication for which Kapri held a prescription.
This arrest violated the terms of his probation from an unrelated case, resulting in a two-month incarceration in Miami.
In 2022, Kapri was also arrested on allegations of trafficking oxycodone and possessing a controlled substance without a prescription. He was released on bond with mandatory drug testing conditions. Court records indicate that in 2023, Kapri was obligated to undergo 30 days of drug rehabilitation after missing a drug test and subsequently testing positive for fentanyl.
In January 2021, former President Donald Trump commuted a three-year federal prison sentence that Kapri was serving for falsifying documents to purchase firearms. At that time, Kapri had completed roughly half of his sentence.
Under the moniker Kodak Black, Kapri has achieved significant commercial success, selling over 30 million singles. His track “Super Gremlin” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2022.