On Thursday, January 11, a Massachusetts court sentenced well-known Chicago rapper G Herbo, real name Herbert Wright III, to three years of probation on federal wire fraud charges. The allegations were related to his role in a scheme to give false information to the authorities to finance ostentatious services, such as private jets, a property in Jamaica, and “designer puppies,” using stolen identities.
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Under the sentence, G Herbo is also required to pay restitution and forfeiture, in addition to a $5,500 fine. The outcome is considered a victory for his defense team, which had sought a probationary period for the artist after he pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecution had recommended a sentence of one year and one day in prison, along with 36 months of supervised release.
The case originated more than three years ago when Wright was indicted on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. He faced a subsequent indictment in 2021 for providing false information about the scheme to federal agents.
In his plea, G Herbo admitted to over a million dollars in fraudulent purchases, covering various goods and services such as private chefs, car rentals, and the purchase of designer puppies. Two counts of identity theft were dropped as part of the plea deal.
The rapper’s involvement in the scheme included paying his promoter and manager, Antonio “T-Glo” Strong, to arrange flights and accommodations using stolen credit card information. Strong, who pleaded not guilty, is among five others charged as alleged co-conspirators.
The defense argued for a lenient sentence, emphasizing G Herbo’s acceptance of responsibility and pointing to his troubled childhood in a violence-prone Chicago neighborhood. They also highlighted the rapper’s commitment to his community and family, citing his establishment of the nonprofit organization Swervin’ Through Stress, which focuses on providing mental health resources to young people of color in Chicago.
