Prosecutors Drop Felony Charge Against Rapper Rick Ross
A felony charge of battery by strangulation against the rapper was dropped due to insufficient evidence, though a misdemeanor charge remains.
Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against rapper Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, approximately one month after his arrest in Miami Beach. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office filed paperwork on Thursday to dismiss the felony charge of battery by strangulation, citing insufficient evidence. Ross, 50, still faces a misdemeanor charge of battery domestic violence.
Ross surrendered to Miami Beach police on Oct. 1, two days after a woman he was living with filed a report. He was released on bail several hours later. According to an arrest report, the woman told detectives that Ross accused her of cheating and struck her multiple times on Aug. 28. She also stated that Ross choked her by grabbing the collar of her shirt and slammed her into a wall. The woman reported that she was eventually able to leave the home and returned later to collect her belongings.
Ross has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney stated Friday that his client would continue to defend himself against the allegations.
Ross, a longtime South Florida resident, gained prominence in 2006 with his debut single “Hustlin'.” His debut album, “Port of Miami,” also achieved platinum status and topped the Billboard 200 chart. He has founded the label Maybach Music Group and has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. His most recent album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.
In 2017, Ross pleaded no contest to aggravated assault in Georgia stemming from a 2015 incident. Under a Georgia first-time offender program, the court later issued an order exonerating him of guilt on that felony count.