Kevin Gates is an American rapper, singer, and entrepreneur from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He first gained recognition with his 2013 mixtape “The Luca Brasi Story” and has since released several successful studio albums. However, Gates has also had numerous run-ins with the law over the years, resulting in multiple prison sentences. Below we’ll explore Gates’ criminal history and the main reasons why he has served time.
Major Arrests and Charges
Over the course of his career, Kevin Gates has faced charges for weapons possession, drug possession, battery, and more. Here is a summary of some of his major arrests and charges:
1999 – Juvenile Detention
At age 13, Gates was arrested for joyriding as a passenger in a stolen vehicle and sentenced to 6 months in a juvenile detention center.
2003 – Battery Conviction
In 2003, Gates was convicted of battery and served 30 days in jail.
2008 – Gun Possession
In 2008, Gates was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers. He served 31 months in prison from 2008-2011 for this charge.
2013 – Parole Violation
Shortly after being released from prison in 2011, Gates was arrested again in 2013 for a parole violation. He served 4 months back in jail for this.
2015 – Battery of a Fan
In August 2015, Gates was arrested in Lakeland, Florida for battery of a female fan who tried to touch his leg during a show.
2016 – Gun Possession
In April 2016, Gates was arrested in Miami for gun possession as a felon. He was held in jail from April – May 2016 for this charge.
2018 – Weapons Charges
In March 2018, Gates was indicted by a grand jury on 5 weapons-related charges and was facing up to 10 years in prison. He accepted a plea deal in June 2019.
Prison Sentences
Based on these arrests and charges, Kevin Gates has served the following main prison sentences so far in his career:
- 1999 – 6 months in juvenile detention
- 2003 – 30 days for battery
- 2008-2011 – 31 months for felony gun possession
- 2013 – 4 months for parole violation
- 2016 – 1 month for gun possession
- 2019-2022 – 30 months for felony gun possession
Gates’ longest prison stay was from 2008-2011 when he served 31 months for felony gun possession. More recently, he served 30 months from 2019-2022 after taking a plea deal for his 2018 indictment on federal weapons charges.
So in summary, the main reasons Kevin Gates has served multiple stints in prison are due to gun possession and battery charges earlier in his career, followed by parole violations and federal weapons charges more recently.
Detailed Timeline of Kevin Gates’ Arrests & Charges
Here is a more detailed timeline of Kevin Gates’ arrests, charges, and prison sentences over the years:
| Date | Charge/Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Arrested for joyriding in stolen vehicle, sentenced to 6 months in juvenile detention |
| 2003 | Battery conviction, sentenced to 30 days in jail |
| January 2008 | Arrested for felony gun possession, released on parole |
| October 2008 | Arrested again on gun charges, sentenced to 31 months in prison |
| 2011 | Released from prison after serving 31 month sentence |
| 2013 | Arrested for parole violation, served 4 months in jail |
| August 2015 | Arrested for battery of a fan in Lakeland, FL |
| April 2016 | Arrested in Miami for gun possession as a felon, served 1 month in jail |
| March 2018 | Indicted by grand jury on federal weapons charges, facing up to 10 years in prison |
| June 2019 | Accepted plea deal for 30 month sentence on federal weapons charges |
| September 2022 | Released from prison after serving 30 month federal sentence |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Kevin Gates initially arrested in 2008?
In 2008, Gates was arrested twice on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers, which is a felony charge.
What crimes led to his parole violation in 2013?
Gates’ parole violation in 2013 came after multiple arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession and traffic violations. This violated the terms of his parole from his 2008 felony conviction.
How long did Kevin Gates serve in jail in 2016?
Gates served around 1 month in jail in Miami in 2016 after being arrested for felony gun possession as a convicted felon.
What federal charges was Gates indicted for in 2018?
In 2018, Gates was indicted by a federal grand jury on 2 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, 2 counts of possession of a firearm not registered to him, and 1 count of possession of a controlled substance.
Why did Gates accept a plea deal in 2019?
By accepting a plea deal in 2019, Gates limited his sentence to 30 months rather than risk facing trial and a possible 10 year sentence if convicted.
When was Kevin Gates most recently released from prison?
Gates was released from a federal prison in Florida in September 2022 after serving 30 months for his federal weapons charges.
Conclusion
In summary, rapper Kevin Gates has served multiple stints in prison stemming primarily from felony gun possession and parole violation charges earlier in his career, followed by a 30 month federal prison sentence in recent years for firearm-related charges. Gates has managed to continue growing his music career in between these prison sentences, but his repeated criminal offenses have resulted in significant time spent incarcerated. Going forward, fans hope Gates will avoid further legal issues so he can focus on making new music.