Why Did Meek Mill go to Prison? 12-Year Legal Case Against Meek Mill Is Over

Posted by Alex March 9, 2023
Why Did Meek Mill Go to Prison?

Why Did Meek Mill Go to Prison?

Meek Mill’s ( whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams) probation violation resulted in a sentence e of two to four years in state jail on November 6. The Philadelphia rapper had been on probation for almost ten years after being found guilty of drug and gun charges when he was just 21 years old. The hashtag #FreeMeek has stayed a call to action both online and offline in the days since his sentencing. Colin Kaepernick stated in a tweet on November 13 that Meek’s case highlights the pressing need for criminal justice reform. Rick Ross and Julius Erving, a basketball legend from Philadelphia, organized a demonstration that same day calling for the cancellation of his sentence.

The judge who has been in charge of Meek’s case for the past ten years is Genece Brinkley. She alone has the authority to discipline or not punish him for breaking his probation. According to several Philadelphia-based attorneys surveyed by Pitchfork, Meek’s punishment did seem excessive. However, some people pointed out that no defense lawyer would be shocked to see a judge “come down on” someone who, like Meek, had broken the conditions of his probation five times in the previous six years. But with such a long time under the spotlight of a court, it’s hard for anyone, let alone a well-known rapper who is frequently on tour, to avoid making a mistake.

meek mill
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When Meek was 19 and still going by the name Robert Williams, he was first detained in 2007. Brinkley found him guilty of seven drug and weapon-related offenses a year and a half later. He was penalized for 11 1/2 to 23 months in county jail and seven years of probation. The judge stated in a court opinion obtained by Pitchfork that she “wanted to allow him to turn his life around from selling drugs and instead focus on his musical talent,” even though the prosecution had pushed for a harsher sentence.

Less than six months after entering county prison, Meek was released and placed under house arrest with the condition that he complete his GED and receive drug treatment. Brinkley lifted his home arrest in December 2009 but continued to be on probation. The court discovered that Meek tested positive for marijuana and an unspecified opiate on multiple occasions over the following two years. Still, she did not consider him to violate his probation.

However, Brinkley did issue a citation to him in 2011 for his first infraction—testing positive once more for narcotic use. The following year, while Meek was on tour, his next hearing was postponed numerous times. The judge finally ordered Meek to undergo a drug test within three days on November 2, 2012, but he failed to appear.

Judge Brinkley halted Meek’s ability to leave Philadelphia County until after his next court appearance, which was scheduled for two weeks later. She then forbade him from planning any trip for another three to four months. After two months, Brinkley determined that Meek had broken the law by returning to the county. To “address his inappropriate social media use and crude language in the courtroom,” she instructed him to enroll in an etiquette training, she later wrote. Several Philadelphia attorneys told Pitchfork that, for better or worse, judges’ sentences are occasionally inventive but that they had never heard of a court ordering a defendant to attend etiquette courses. Meek made court appearances every three months for the following year.

Soon after, Meek received a third probation violation for leaving the state again. Brinkley gave him a three- to a six-month county prison term in July 2014 and five years of probation. He spent almost five months behind bars at Hoffman Hall. He was mandated to attend drug and alcohol counseling while incarcerated and anger management and parenting courses (since he has a young son). The judge did grant Meek’s request to tour Dubai the following year, but she later withdrew her earlier approval for him to visit Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Meek was given his fourth probation violation on December 10, 2015, for failing to report to his probation supervisor, leaving Philadelphia without authorization, and providing a water sample instead of urine for a drug test. The court gave Meek a six to twelve-month house arrest term and six years of probation. Brinkley also put Meek under house arrest, which required him to complete 90 days of community service and forbade him from working or traveling. Meek made a request.

Judge Lillian Harris Ransom eventually dismissed that appeal on September 8, 2017. All of this provides context for Meek’s present predicament. Brinkley discovered Meek violated his probation for a fifth occasion earlier this month. She cited two misdemeanor arrests for reckless driving involving a motorcycle in Manhattan, an alleged altercation at the St. Louis airport, a failed drug test, and violations of court-ordered travel limits. If Meek doesn’t commit any more infractions, charges from the New York case will be erased from his record in April; the St. Louis charge was allegedly dropped. She nevertheless handed him a sentence of two to four years.

Both the prosecutor and the probation officer in the case disagreed with that punishment. But Meek arrived at Camp Hill State Prison on November 8.

meek mill prison

On November 14, Brinkley was formally asked to withdraw from the case by Meek’s current legal team, managed by Brian McMonagle, who recently defended Bill Cosby against allegations of sexual assault. In the revocation process, Judge Brinkley “assumed a non-judicial, essentially prosecutorial role,” Meek’s attorneys claimed in the 14-page filing, which Pitchfork was able to acquire. “During this case, the defendant, now a famous professional entertainer, received repeated inappropriate personal and professional advice from Judge Brinkley. Judge Brinkley has done so on occasion off the record or while intentionally hiding the form from the offender and his attorney.

Meek’s attorneys asserted that Brinkley “repeatedly” requested that Meek quit Roc Nation and sign with her friend, prominent local musician Charlie Mack. The filing further alleged that after the hearing in February 2016, the judge invited Meek and his then-girlfriend Nicki Minaj for an “entirely off-the-record” discussion without attorneys. Then, according to reports, Brinkley requested Meek to record a cover of the ballad “On Bended Knee” by fellow Philadelphia band Boyz II Men and include a shout-out to her in it.

On November 15, a day later, Meek’s attorneys submitted a new petition asking Brinkley to revoke his probation and overturn his conviction. The 13-page document, which Pitchfork acquired, claimed that Brinkley had advised Meek not to appeal his February 2016 sentencing. His attorneys argued the judge’s caution raised “at least the appearance of retaliation” because he did appeal.

Pitchfork has contacted Meek’s attorneys for comment; they have not responded. Brinkley has declined to speak through a court representative. However, Philadelphia-area attorneys warned Pitchfork that the court will likely take severe action if a probationer breaks the rules a fifth time. “That’s probably more than some judges would tolerate before they lay the hammer down,” said Matt Mangino, a defense attorney who has worked as a prosecutor and Pennsylvania parole board member. Looking at seven other cases where Brinkley sentenced probation violators, The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that while they often followed probation periods stretching out for more than a decade, ending with her lambasting the defendants for “thumbing [their] nose at the court,” they always held up on appeal.

Judges still disregard the probation officer and prosecutor’s suggestions less frequently, according to the attorneys who spoke to Pitchfork. And Brinkley is rumored to have a more eccentric approach than some judges, having admitted to directly checking in to see if Meek was completing his required community service. Veteran Philadelphia defense attorney Sam Stretton said, “She gets too engaged. “You cannot serve as their pastor.”

No matter how heinous Meek’s sentence might seem, there are many other reasons for outrage in Meek’s case. Brad Shuttleworth, a defense lawyer in Philadelphia, said: “People who believe this is just about Meek Mill are misguided. Instead, he asserted, the case of Meek has catalyzed a more significant debate about criminal justice change.

The most recent government statistics indicate that in 2015, 3.8 million Americans were on probation. Just over half of them were released from probation that year. According to a study by the Urban Institute, black people make up 30% of individuals on probation despite making up only 13% of the country’s population. Additionally, black individuals have a higher chance of having their probation revoked, which could result in jail time or other punishment.

According to civil rights lawyer Thomas O. Fitzpatrick, Meek’s sentence exemplifies the American criminal justice system’s long history of placing people on “perpetual probation,” especially men of color. “Is Meek Mill treated fairly?” Fitzpatrick pondered the statement. He knew what it was, I suppose. Meek Mill is not surprised by this. Is it reasonable to say that this should be seen as a criticism of our system? We ought to. And we ought to think twice before acting.

Legislation to reform the criminal justice system is presently passing through Congress. Unfortunately, probation is not changed, which is terrible news for Meek and the millions of others trapped in the system.

FAQs

How did Meek Mill Judge fare?

It said Brinkley’s petition was “based on personal views and grievance and not law” and described a “false narrative of the supervisory responses to her wrongful conduct.” Due to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s pending decision in the case, Brinkley is still not allowed to testify in criminal court.

What was Meek Mill’s activity in Ghana?

Meek Mill has regretted covertly using Ghana’s presidential palace to film a music video. In the video, the rapper could be seen singing in the palace’s hallways and corridors, which was criticized for posing a security risk. After discovering that he is partially Ghanaian, Mill visited that country last month.

Is Meek Mill still under contract with MMG?

Rick Ross’s MMG (Maybach Music Group) and Atlantic Records are Meek Mill’s current record labels.

Has Meek Mill had a child?

The rapper Meek Mill’s birthday is May 6, 2020, and the couple delivered their son that day. Meek Mill is celebrating his son’s birthday by expressing affection for him.

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Alex
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Alex Hoffman-Ellis is a nerd who love technology and computers. He has been building computers for over 5 years now, and have always loved the challenge of learning how to make them faster, better, and more efficient. He's here to share his insights on these as a journalist, a designer and a technologist with love for writing and tech stuff. Words from Alex Hoffman: “Technology is best when it brings people together.”