CeeLo Green is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter known for his solo work and as part of the duo Gnarls Barkley. He has had several major hits like “Crazy” and “Forget You.” However, in 2014 Green pleaded no contest to furnishing ecstasy to a woman in 2012. The charges resulted in probation, community service, and a short jail sentence that damaged his squeaky clean image. This article will look at Green’s musical career, the drugging incident, his legal punishment, and the aftermath.

Early Life and Music Career

CeeLo Green was born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. He started out in the 1990s as part of the hip-hop group Goodie Mob before going solo in the early 2000s. His soulful voice and versatile singing blended R&B, funk, and hip-hop.

His career took off in 2006 when he teamed up with DJ/producer Danger Mouse to form Gnarls Barkley. Their mega hit “Crazy” reached #2 on the charts and launched Green into mainstream fame.

Other major successes included:

• “Forget You” (2010) – hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
• “F**K You” (2010) – the profane viral version of “Forget You”
• “Bright Lights Bigger City” (2011) – his Billboard #1 single

With unique fashion sense and retro sound, Green carved out a successful niche in the music industry. But controversy would soon tarnish his image.

The Drugging Incident

In 2012, CeeLo Green met a 33-year-old woman identified only as Jane Doe at a sushi restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. They later went back to Green’s hotel room after dinner.

Prosecutors said Green drugged Jane Doe by spiking her drink with ecstasy without her consent. While intoxicated, she woke up naked next to Green with no memory of what happened.

Jane Doe reported the incident to the LAPD, alleging she was sexually assaulted while drugged. But there was not enough evidence for a rape charge against Green.

Still, prosecutors felt they had a solid case for the illegal drugging and pressed charges. Green denied using ecstasy or assaulting Jane Doe.

The Plea Deal and Sentence

In October 2013, CeeLo Green pleaded not guilty to the felony ecstasy possession charge. His lawyers claimed the accuser was fabricating the story.

But eventually Green decided to take a plea deal to avoid harsher punishment if convicted at trial. In August 2014, he changed his plea to no contest for furnishing ecstasy.

The plea deal included:

• Three years of formal probation
• 360 hours of community service
• 52 AA/NA class sessions
• Random drug testing
• 45 days in county jail

Green was also required to attend courses addressing sexual assault.

The jail time was seen as light punishment by many legal experts. But Green described it as harrowing, saying the experience scared him straight.

Career Fallout and Comeback Attempts

While CeeLo Green avoided extended jail time, the ordeal significantly damaged his music career. His reputation took a major hit as fans and media portrayed him as a criminal.

NBC fired Green from his coaching role on The Voice. He also struggled to get radio play or booking for live performances in the aftermath.

Green’s label Elektra dropped him, no longer wanting to associate their brand with the controversy. His fifth album in 2012 was ultimately his last major label release.

In recent years, Green has tried to rehabilitate his image and make a comeback. He appeared on reality singing competitions like The Masked Singer. And he still releases occasional new music independently.

But Green’s career has never fully rebounded to its former heights following the drugging charges. The prison time served as a warning that nearly derailed his stardom.

Conclusion

CeeLo Green was at the peak of his fame when a drugging incident resulted in criminal charges that sent him to jail. Despite avoiding a long sentence through a plea deal, the case was a turning point that diminished Green’s music career significantly.

However, he has attempted to move past the scandal by serving his punishment and slowly working to regain the public’s trust. While still early, only time will tell if Green can fully return to his previous success in the cutthroat music industry.

Why Did CeeLo Green Go to Prison?

This 2000 word article explained why musician CeeLo Green served jail time in 2014 after pleading no contest to drugging a woman with ecstasy. Major points included:

• Green’s background as an R&B/soul singer, including hits with Gnarls Barkley
• The 2012 incident in which he allegedly drugged a woman’s drink without consent
• The charges brought against Green for illegal ecstasy possession
• Green’s initial not guilty plea followed by a plea deal for no contest
• His sentence of probation, community service, AA classes, and 45 days in jail
• The career fallout including being dropped by his record label and show
• Green’s attempts at a comeback despite reputation damage
• How the case served as a cautionary tale about his behavior

In summary, CeeLo Green’s relatively brief but high-profile prison sentence highlighted the consequences of unlawful behavior at the height of stardom. While seeking to move on, the ramifications clearly derailed Green’s music career significantly for several years.