Kodak Black: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Person | {{Infobox Person | ||
|name = | | name = Kodak Black | ||
|birth_date = June 11, 1997 | | image = | ||
|birth_place = Pompano Beach, Florida | | birth_date = June 11, 1997 | ||
| | | birth_place = Pompano Beach, Florida | ||
|sentence = 46 months (commuted January 2021) | | conviction = Making false statements to acquire firearms | ||
|facility = | | sentence = 46 months in federal prison (commuted January 2021) | ||
|status = Released | | facility = Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring; later transferred to USP Thomson | ||
| status = Released (January 2021) - Sentence commuted by President Trump | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Bill Kahan Kapri''' (born Dieuson Octave; June 11, 1997), known professionally as '''Kodak Black''', is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Pompano Beach, Florida. He is known for his hit singles "Tunnel Vision," "Zeze," "Roll in Peace," and "Super Gremlin." In 2019, Kodak Black was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making false statements to acquire firearms. His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on Trump's final day in office, January 20, 2021. | |||
Kodak Black | == Background == | ||
Kodak Black was born Dieuson Octave on June 11, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He was raised in public housing in the Golden Acres housing project by his Haitian immigrant mother and began rapping at age six. He later legally changed his name to Bill Kahan Kapri. | |||
He began gaining recognition in the hip-hop community in 2014 with his song "No Flockin," which went viral on social media. His commercial breakthrough came in 2017 with the single "Tunnel Vision," which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. He has since released multiple successful albums, including ''Painting Pictures'' (2017), ''Dying to Live'' (2018), and ''Back for Everything'' (2022). | |||
Despite his musical success, Kodak Black's career has been marked by numerous legal troubles, including multiple arrests on charges ranging from robbery to weapons possession to sexual assault. | |||
== Criminal History == | |||
=== Early Legal Troubles === | |||
Kodak Black's criminal record began as a juvenile. In 2015, he was arrested in Pompano Beach on charges including robbery with a firearm, battery, false imprisonment of a child under 13, false imprisonment of an adult, possession of marijuana, and driving with a suspended license. | |||
In April 2016, he was arrested in Broward County for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and fleeing from law enforcement. | |||
In August 2016, he was arrested again for armed robbery and false imprisonment. | |||
=== Sexual Assault Allegations === | |||
In 2016, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Kodak Black on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, alleging that he sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in Florence, South Carolina. The case remained pending during his subsequent federal incarceration. In April 2021, following his release, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree assault and battery in exchange for the sexual assault charge being dropped. He received 18 months of probation. | |||
=== Border Crossing Incident === | |||
In April 2019, Kodak Black was arrested at the U.S.-Canada border near Niagara Falls, New York, while attempting to enter the United States from Canada. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and unlawful possession of marijuana. Authorities allegedly found a Glock pistol, marijuana, and approximately $75,000 in cash in his vehicle. | |||
== Federal Firearms Case == | |||
=== The Charges === | |||
On May 11, 2019, just before he was scheduled to perform at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami, federal agents arrested Kodak Black on charges of knowingly making false statements when trying to acquire firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. | |||
== | According to the indictment, Kodak Black made false and fictitious statements on ATF Form 4473 when purchasing firearms from Lou's Police Distributors, a licensed gun dealer in Miami, on two separate occasions in January and March 2019. On the forms, he falsely stated that he was not under indictment or facing criminal charges in any court, when in fact he was facing the pending sexual assault charges in South Carolina. | ||
The forms require purchasers to truthfully answer questions about their criminal history, and lying on these federal firearms forms is a felony. | |||
=== Guilty Plea and Sentencing === | |||
In August 2019, Kodak Black pleaded guilty to the charges. On November 13, 2019, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno in Miami sentenced him to 46 months (nearly four years) in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. | |||
At sentencing, prosecutors argued for a stiff sentence, noting Kodak Black's extensive criminal history and his lack of remorse. Judge Moreno stated that Kodak Black's behavior showed a "pattern of a man who thinks the laws do not apply to him." | |||
== | == Incarceration == | ||
Kodak Black initially served his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Big Spring in Texas before being transferred to USP Thomson, a high-security federal penitentiary in Illinois. Reports emerged during his incarceration that he had been involved in altercations with corrections officers and other inmates and had been placed in solitary confinement. | |||
Kodak | While in prison, Kodak Black continued to work on music and maintained contact with his fans through social media posts made by associates. | ||
== | == Presidential Commutation == | ||
On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump's final day in office, the White House announced that Kodak Black's sentence would be commuted. The commutation was part of a flurry of 143 pardons and commutations issued by Trump in his final hours as president. | |||
The White House statement noted that Kodak Black's commutation was supported by "numerous religious leaders," including Reverend Darrell Scott and Rabbi Schneur Kaplan of Fort Lauderdale. Other supporters included former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, Hunter Pollack (brother of Parkland shooting victim Meadow Pollack), and fellow rappers Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, and Lil Yachty. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also publicly advocated for his release. | |||
Before the commutation, Kodak Black had offered to donate $1 million to charity if Trump granted him clemency. He had also publicly supported Trump's reelection campaign and expressed approval for Trump's "Platinum Plan" economic initiative aimed at Black Americans. | |||
Kodak Black was released from prison immediately following the commutation, having served approximately one year of his nearly four-year sentence. | |||
== Post-Release == | |||
Following his release, Kodak Black resumed his music career. In 2022, he released the album ''Back for Everything'', which included the hit single "Super Gremlin," one of his most commercially successful songs. | |||
However, legal troubles have continued. In July 2022, he was arrested in South Florida on charges of trafficking oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance after police allegedly found 31 oxycodone pills and approximately $75,000 in cash during a traffic stop. According to police reports, when officers approached his vehicle, Kodak Black's mouth was full of what appeared to be a white substance, which he attempted to swallow. | |||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
* [[High-Profile Federal Offenders]] | |||
* [[Presidential Clemency and Pardons]] | |||
== References == | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]] | |||
== Cultural Impact and Controversy == | |||
Kodak Black's case highlighted debates about presidential clemency powers and the role of celebrity advocacy in criminal justice. His commutation drew criticism from those who argued that his extensive criminal history and pending charges made him an inappropriate candidate for clemency, while supporters argued that his sentence was excessive compared to similar cases. | |||
His case also brought attention to the consequences of lying on federal firearms background check forms, a crime that is often prosecuted against those with prior criminal records who attempt to purchase weapons illegally. | |||
Despite ongoing legal issues, Kodak Black has remained a commercially successful artist, demonstrating the complex relationship between celebrity, criminal justice, and public perception in American culture. | |||
Revision as of 22:32, 25 November 2025
| Kodak Black | |
|---|---|
| Born: | June 11, 1997 Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Charges: | |
| Sentence: | 46 months in federal prison (commuted January 2021) |
| Facility: | Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring; later transferred to USP Thomson |
| Status: | Released (January 2021) - Sentence commuted by President Trump |
Bill Kahan Kapri (born Dieuson Octave; June 11, 1997), known professionally as Kodak Black, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Pompano Beach, Florida. He is known for his hit singles "Tunnel Vision," "Zeze," "Roll in Peace," and "Super Gremlin." In 2019, Kodak Black was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making false statements to acquire firearms. His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on Trump's final day in office, January 20, 2021.
Background
Kodak Black was born Dieuson Octave on June 11, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He was raised in public housing in the Golden Acres housing project by his Haitian immigrant mother and began rapping at age six. He later legally changed his name to Bill Kahan Kapri.
He began gaining recognition in the hip-hop community in 2014 with his song "No Flockin," which went viral on social media. His commercial breakthrough came in 2017 with the single "Tunnel Vision," which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. He has since released multiple successful albums, including Painting Pictures (2017), Dying to Live (2018), and Back for Everything (2022).
Despite his musical success, Kodak Black's career has been marked by numerous legal troubles, including multiple arrests on charges ranging from robbery to weapons possession to sexual assault.
Criminal History
Early Legal Troubles
Kodak Black's criminal record began as a juvenile. In 2015, he was arrested in Pompano Beach on charges including robbery with a firearm, battery, false imprisonment of a child under 13, false imprisonment of an adult, possession of marijuana, and driving with a suspended license.
In April 2016, he was arrested in Broward County for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and fleeing from law enforcement.
In August 2016, he was arrested again for armed robbery and false imprisonment.
Sexual Assault Allegations
In 2016, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Kodak Black on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, alleging that he sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in Florence, South Carolina. The case remained pending during his subsequent federal incarceration. In April 2021, following his release, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree assault and battery in exchange for the sexual assault charge being dropped. He received 18 months of probation.
Border Crossing Incident
In April 2019, Kodak Black was arrested at the U.S.-Canada border near Niagara Falls, New York, while attempting to enter the United States from Canada. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and unlawful possession of marijuana. Authorities allegedly found a Glock pistol, marijuana, and approximately $75,000 in cash in his vehicle.
Federal Firearms Case
The Charges
On May 11, 2019, just before he was scheduled to perform at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami, federal agents arrested Kodak Black on charges of knowingly making false statements when trying to acquire firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
According to the indictment, Kodak Black made false and fictitious statements on ATF Form 4473 when purchasing firearms from Lou's Police Distributors, a licensed gun dealer in Miami, on two separate occasions in January and March 2019. On the forms, he falsely stated that he was not under indictment or facing criminal charges in any court, when in fact he was facing the pending sexual assault charges in South Carolina.
The forms require purchasers to truthfully answer questions about their criminal history, and lying on these federal firearms forms is a felony.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
In August 2019, Kodak Black pleaded guilty to the charges. On November 13, 2019, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno in Miami sentenced him to 46 months (nearly four years) in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued for a stiff sentence, noting Kodak Black's extensive criminal history and his lack of remorse. Judge Moreno stated that Kodak Black's behavior showed a "pattern of a man who thinks the laws do not apply to him."
Incarceration
Kodak Black initially served his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Big Spring in Texas before being transferred to USP Thomson, a high-security federal penitentiary in Illinois. Reports emerged during his incarceration that he had been involved in altercations with corrections officers and other inmates and had been placed in solitary confinement.
While in prison, Kodak Black continued to work on music and maintained contact with his fans through social media posts made by associates.
Presidential Commutation
On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump's final day in office, the White House announced that Kodak Black's sentence would be commuted. The commutation was part of a flurry of 143 pardons and commutations issued by Trump in his final hours as president.
The White House statement noted that Kodak Black's commutation was supported by "numerous religious leaders," including Reverend Darrell Scott and Rabbi Schneur Kaplan of Fort Lauderdale. Other supporters included former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, Hunter Pollack (brother of Parkland shooting victim Meadow Pollack), and fellow rappers Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, and Lil Yachty. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also publicly advocated for his release.
Before the commutation, Kodak Black had offered to donate $1 million to charity if Trump granted him clemency. He had also publicly supported Trump's reelection campaign and expressed approval for Trump's "Platinum Plan" economic initiative aimed at Black Americans.
Kodak Black was released from prison immediately following the commutation, having served approximately one year of his nearly four-year sentence.
Post-Release
Following his release, Kodak Black resumed his music career. In 2022, he released the album Back for Everything, which included the hit single "Super Gremlin," one of his most commercially successful songs.
However, legal troubles have continued. In July 2022, he was arrested in South Florida on charges of trafficking oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance after police allegedly found 31 oxycodone pills and approximately $75,000 in cash during a traffic stop. According to police reports, when officers approached his vehicle, Kodak Black's mouth was full of what appeared to be a white substance, which he attempted to swallow.
See Also
References
Cultural Impact and Controversy
Kodak Black's case highlighted debates about presidential clemency powers and the role of celebrity advocacy in criminal justice. His commutation drew criticism from those who argued that his extensive criminal history and pending charges made him an inappropriate candidate for clemency, while supporters argued that his sentence was excessive compared to similar cases.
His case also brought attention to the consequences of lying on federal firearms background check forms, a crime that is often prosecuted against those with prior criminal records who attempt to purchase weapons illegally.
Despite ongoing legal issues, Kodak Black has remained a commercially successful artist, demonstrating the complex relationship between celebrity, criminal justice, and public perception in American culture.