
American rapper Rick Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, was arrested in Miami early Thursday morning following serious allegations of domestic violence. The 47-year-old founder of Maybach Music Group faces a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Following a court hearing, Ross was released on a $5,000 bond. The arrest follows a police report filed on September 29 concerning an incident that allegedly occurred at the rapper's residence on August 28.
The charges stem from an encounter at Ross's Star Island home, where a woman identified as his ex-girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, claims she was physically assaulted. According to police reports, Kendrick alleged that the rapper struck her and restricted her breathing during the altercation. In the weeks following the incident, Kendrick took to social media to share images of her purported injuries on Instagram, a move that brought significant public attention to the case before the formal arrest was made.
Rick Ross and his legal team have vehemently denied the accusations, describing them as entirely fabricated and unfounded. His attorney asserts that Kendrick is wrongfully accusing the rapper and pointed to the one-month gap between the alleged incident and the filing of the police report as a reason for skepticism. Despite the denial, a judge has issued a stay-away order, strictly prohibiting the "Hustlin'" artist from contacting the alleged victim or visiting specific locations associated with her.
This is not the first time the music mogul has faced legal challenges; Ross was previously involved in a high-profile case in 2015 related to kidnapping and aggravated assault, which eventually resulted in a plea deal. As the music industry watches the current case closely, Ross has requested that the public refrain from passing judgment until all facts are presented in court. He is scheduled for a formal arraignment on October 22, where he is expected to reiterate his plea of not guilty.