Ana Montana, Girlfriend of NBA Star LaMelo Ball, Arrested on Felony Drug Charges
Model faces charges of obtaining controlled substances by fraud or forgery and simple possession in North Carolina.
Ana Montana, the model girlfriend of Minnesota Timberwolves star LaMelo Ball, has been arrested and faces multiple drug charges in North Carolina.
Montana, whose legal name is Analicia Chaves, was taken into custody by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office on Monday. She is facing two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery, and two misdemeanor counts of simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. She was being held on a $20,000 bond.
An arrest warrant issued on September 22 alleges that Montana obtained alprazolam, a form of Xanax, from a Walgreens pharmacy using a DEA registration and medical provider ID that were reportedly stolen from a doctor. The charges state that she obtained the prescription via fraudulent means and then possessed the medication after acquiring it from the pharmacy.
Montana addressed her legal situation in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, noting that she is limited in what she can share publicly due to the ongoing legal matter. She expressed that aspects of her experience have been portrayed in the media without full context and described the situation as a painful personal circumstance turned into entertainment.
"I've struggled with anxiety for years and have tried to navigate it privately," Montana wrote in her statement. "It's difficult to see personal circumstances discussed publicly without the full context. I hope this moment also reminds people to show care and understanding toward those living with anxiety and other mental health challenges."
She added that her focus is on her child, family, and faith, and that she will continue her work with her nonprofit foundation, I am Fertility, which supports women navigating fertility issues. "This mission means a lot to me, it's my purpose and I'm grateful to continue serving the women and families who rely on this work," she stated.
Montana's lawyer clarified in a statement to TMZ that the charges allege a doctor used fraudulent credentials to prescribe Alprazolam for Montana, and that she used that prescription to obtain the medication. The possession charges relate to her alleged possession of the drug after obtaining it.
Montana and Ball, who have a son named LaOne born in January, have been romantically linked since 2021. Ball is preparing for his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves following a four-team trade. He played for the Charlotte Hornets from 2021 to 2026, appearing in 43% of games during that period before a notable 2025-26 season that helped the team reach the play-in games.