NBA YoungBoy pens emotional note for Trump after pardon: ‘I am fully prepared…’

Rapper NBA YoungBoy penned an emotional note for President Donald Trump after he issued a pardon.

Updated on: May 29, 2025, 03:09:14 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Rapper NBA YoungBoy penned an emotional note for President Donald Trump after he issued a pardon. The Baton Rouge artist was named among eight others, including former lawmaker Michael Grimm and entrepreneurs Todd and Julie Chrisley, as being granted clemency by the president on Wednesday.

NBA YoungBoy penned a note for Trump after he was pardoned (X)

In a note thanking Trump, the rapper, whose real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, said that ‘this moment means a lot’.

“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building - as a man, as a father, and as an artist. This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for, and I am fully prepared to step into this,” the rapper wrote on social media.

He further thanked pardon czar Alice Johnson and his lawyer Brittany K Barnett.

“Big thanks to the Pardon Czar, Ms. Alice Marie Johnson, for fighting for second chances for so many people, and to my lawyer, Brittany K. Barnett, for being in my corner and for all your hard work to make this possible. And thank you to everyone who believed in me. I'm grateful. I'm Focused. I'm Ready,” he added.

What was NBA YoungBoy sentenced to?

NBA YoungBoy was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison on December 10, 2024, after pleading guilty to possessing firearms as a convicted felon, stemming from a 2020 arrest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The sentence, handed down by US District Judge David Barlow in Utah, also included five years of supervised probation and a $200,000 fine. With time served since his April 2024 arrest, the rapper served approximately 11 months and was released from FCI Talladega, Alabama, on March 24, 2025.

He was transferred to a halfway house in Phoenix, Arizona, with a full release date of April 26, 2025, and a 30-day curfew.

Additionally, he resolved a separate Utah prescription drug fraud case in November 2024, pleading guilty to 10 charges (including identity fraud and forgery). He avoided further jail time, receiving a $25,000 fine and time served. His probation terms prohibit alcohol and drug use, require up to six monthly drug tests, and mandate mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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