Boosie Badazz Seeks Probation, Community Service in Federal Gun Case
Boosie Badazz is asking a federal judge to spare him prison time when he is sentenced this week for being a felon in possession of a firearm, arguing that the offense was an isolated lapse rather than a return to criminal behavior.
In a sentencing memorandum filed late Monday, the Louisiana rapper and his attorney, Meghan Blanco, are requesting a sentence of two years of structured probation and 300 hours of community service. The filing urges the court to reject incarceration altogether, framing the June 2023 incident in San Diego as nonviolent and situational.
“The offense conduct was limited, nonviolent, and isolated,” the memo states. “Mr. Hatch did not discharge a firearm or cause harm. No victim was identified, and the government has not alleged that the firearms were used in connection with any other criminal activity or broader criminal scheme.”
Born Torence Hatch, Boosie pleaded guilty last August to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal prosecutors have asked for a two-year prison sentence, a position that sits between the defense’s request for probation and the 46 months of incarceration recommended by federal probation officials in a presentence report. Had the case gone to trial and resulted in a conviction, Hatch could have faced up to 15 years in prison.
Despite seeking prison time, prosecutors acknowledged several mitigating factors in their own filing, including Hatch’s acceptance of responsibility and his personal history. “Defendant has clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility,” prosecutors wrote, adding that his “difficult upbringing” likely contributed to his legal troubles.
According to court filings, Hatch was exposed to domestic violence at a young age, witnessed his father’s substance abuse, and began using marijuana when he was eight years old. His father later died from a brain tumor, an event prosecutors said “deeply affected him” and contributed to depression and behavioral issues during his adolescence.
Prosecutors also noted Hatch’s extensive criminal record, which includes prior convictions for assault, battery, resisting arrest, illegal firearm possession, and drug-related offenses. Still, they conceded that the current case involved no identifiable victims and emphasized that Hatch has remained gainfully employed and continued working throughout the proceedings. “These factors weigh in favor of a variance,” the government wrote.
In his own memo, Hatch said he carried a firearm out of fear for his safety following a shooting in Texas in which he was a victim. That experience, the defense argues, “understandably heightened his sense of vulnerability and personal safety,” leading to a poor decision rather than criminal intent.
The case stems from an Instagram Live video shared online in June 2023, in which Hatch was allegedly seen with a firearm tucked into his waistband. San Diego police tracked his vehicle with the assistance of a helicopter before conducting a traffic stop. Officers recovered a loaded 9mm Glock 19 from the backseat, while a member of Hatch’s security team turned over a loaded 9mm Springfield Hellcat. Authorities said Hatch’s DNA was found on both weapons, which were purchased in Georgia by his girlfriend.
After an initial indictment was dismissed on procedural grounds, federal prosecutors returned a second indictment in July 2024. Hatch ultimately pleaded guilty to the felon-in-possession charge on Aug. 26.
At the time, Hatch publicly acknowledged the plea on social media, writing that he was “tired of fighting” and believed accepting the deal was the right decision for himself and his family. A father of nine, he now asks the court to consider what his lawyers describe as his personal growth and contributions to his community over the past decade.
Hatch is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning before U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo.
