Why Did Fetty Wap Go to Jail: What Happened?

Rapper Fetty Wap is back home after serving nearly three years in prison, with his early release sparking renewed interest in the circumstances that led to his incarceration. The 34-year-old, whose legal name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was released on January 8, 2026—almost 11 months ahead of his originally scheduled December 2026 release. He has been transferred from the Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone in Minnesota to home confinement, where he will remain under supervision until November 8, 2026.

While the Federal Bureau of Prisons has not publicly disclosed the precise reasons for his early release, such decisions are typically influenced by good conduct, participation in rehabilitation programs, and earned time credits. Upon his release, Fetty Wap expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating: “I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support — it truly means everything to me. Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation, supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves.”

Fetty Wap also shared the news on Instagram, posting the word “HOME” in white letters over a black background, affirming his commitment to making a positive impact through his initiatives.

The rapper’s legal troubles began in October 2021 when he was arrested in Queens, New York, prior to a scheduled performance at Rolling Loud NYC. Federal prosecutors accused him of participating in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that transported cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across New York and New Jersey between 2019 and 2020. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Fetty was a “kilogram-level redistributor,” responsible for trafficking over 100 kilograms of narcotics using vehicles with hidden compartments and even the U.S. Postal Service.

Initially released on a $500K bond, Fetty’s bond was revoked in August 2022 after prosecutors claimed he violated release terms by possessing a firearm and threatening someone via FaceTime. He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Before his legal troubles, Fetty Wap rose to fame in 2015 with his hit single Trap Queen, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a diamond certification. He followed with other top-10 hits, including 679 and My Way, earning Grammy nominations and Billboard’s Top New Artist accolade in 2016.

On a personal note, Fetty has had six children with different women, and he was previously married to Leandra K. Gonzalez for six months. Tragically, he lost his youngest daughter to congenital heart defects in 2021.