Louisiana rapper NBA YoungBoy ordered to be taken into federal custody after Utah arrest

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A federal judge has requested that Baton Rouge rapper NBA Youngboy’s pre-trial release be revoked.

On Thursday, a motion was filed to revoke NBA YoungBoy, aka Kentrell Gaulden, pre-trial release after Gaulden was arrested on 63 total charges of forgery, identity fraud and procuring prescription drugs.

United States Middle District Judge Shelly Dick signed the motion to revoke Gaulden’s release before his scheduled trial date in July 2024 for unrelated weapon charges.

According to court documents, Gaulden is accused of operating a large-scale drug prescription fraud ring in Cache County in Utah. Beginning in September 2023, Reed’s Pharmacy in Utah received a call from a believed pharmacist in Provo, Utah for a prescription of Promethazine for “Bethel White.” The pharmacy noted the call came from a number that was not associated with the actual pharmacist. The pharmacy contacted the pharmacist who stated they did not have a patient by the name of Bethel White.

In the same court documents, a pharmacy in Logan, Utah received a call from the same suspect but this time for a patient named “Gwendolyn Cox.” Detectives say a female associate reportedly picked up the prescription and stated it was for her grandmother. About three weeks later, the same pharmacy received a call from the suspect prescribing “Gwendolyn Cox” a refill of Promethazine. This time, the pharmacy asked for a hard copy of the prescription, court documents state.

The affidavit states detectives began investigating after suspects attempted to pick up a fraudulent prescription. Detectives arranged a plan to contact the pick-up person from the pharmacy. Two different females were identified as known associates of Gaulden. They were later arrested for their participation in a prescription fraud ring, officials say. Authorities searched the vehicle, which was registered to Gaulden, and found “marijuana flakes” and an empty gun in the vehicle. The vehicle was impounded.

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Detectives were contacted by “Gwendolyn Cox” and noticed the voice was fake and the suspect had a Southern accent. Dispatch requested that “Gwendolyn” contact them to be transferred through. The suspect on the phone stated, “Well I ‘axed’ her to and she said she’ll have you call me.”

Documents state detectives were later contacted by Gaulden’s business manager to get the vehicle from the impound and ultimately contact Gaulden himself. Gaulden stated the two women were family members and approved of them using the vehicle. Gaulden then proceeded to say, “‘Axe’ him about the prescription they picked up.” Detectives noted that this was the same tone and dialect used when speaking with “Gwendolyn Cox.”

Gaulden was later arrested at his home in Utah along with other associates. When asked about a gun in the home, Gaulden stated his wife owns one and that his DNA may be found on it since “he moved it from an open area.”

During a search of the home, documents show that detectives found prescription bottles with the fraudulent names that were used and a gun that was in an “accessible place.” When asked for the passcode for Gaulden’s cell phone, he responded with, “Take it and break it.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigations describes Gaulden as the known leader of a violent gang from the Louisiana area. The FBI says that based on Gaulden’s history, he is prone to violence.

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