Rapper Fetty Wap was released from prison on January 8, 2026, after serving over three years of a six-year sentence for federal drug charges. The early release came ahead of his original December 2026 date. In a statement, he thanked supporters and outlined plans to focus on community work.
Fetty Wap, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, walked free from a low-security prison in Sandstone, Minnesota, on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Billboard confirmed the release with his representatives, noting it occurred 11 months before his scheduled date in December 2026.
The New Jersey native's legal troubles began with his arrest in October 2021 in Queens, New York, just before a performance at Rolling Loud NYC. A federal indictment accused him of transporting 100 kilograms of drugs from California and distributing them in Long Island. In August 2022, Fetty Wap pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. He was sentenced to six years in prison in May 2023.
'I want to thank my family, friends, and fans for the love, prayers, and continued support — it truly means everything to me,' Fetty Wap said in a statement to Billboard. 'Right now, my focus is on giving back through my community initiatives and foundation, supporting at-risk young children by expanding access to education, early tech skills, and vision care for young kids and students so they can show up as their best selves. I’m committed to moving forward with purpose and making a meaningful impact where it matters most.'
On the music front, Fetty Wap has remained active. He collaborated with Doe Boe on 'Lil Sexy' in June 2025. His 2015 track 'Again' re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 41 in February 2025 and topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50. His last album, King Zoo, arrived in 2023. Earlier in his career, Fetty Wap broke through in the mid-2010s with three top 10 Hot 100 hits: the diamond-certified 'Trap Queen,' '679,' and 'My Way.'
