An Orlando rapper who police alleged was a gang leader at the center of a deadly feud that shocked Central Florida returned to jail last week after violating his probation in his racketeering case.
Read more NASA announces lunar rover, other moon base mission providers
Javarri “Hotboii” Walker, 25, was sentenced May 18 to six months in the Orange County Jail for associating with alleged members of the gang police had accused him of leading. He began his sentence later that day, less than two years after his bombastic exit from his first years-long stint at the jail and just a week after performing at the massive Rolling Loud hip-hop festival in Orlando.
Despite the setback, his longtime attorney, Lyle Mazin, said Walker was pleased with the situation, which could have been worse considering that prosecutors had been seeking a longer sentence for the probation violation.
“He’s ecstatic with the result. He can’t wait to get back out there and keep producing music, see his fans and mostly, can’t wait to get back to his son,” Mazin said.
Mazin also said Walker’s trademark hairstyle was an important factor in the sentencing, as he successfully beseeched a judge to sentence his client to jail instead of prison, where Walker would have to shave it off.
Walker, initially arrested in 2021, was alleged to have been the leader of the 438 gang, based in the Silver Star Road area of Orlando. Law enforcement officials said 438 was caught up in a feud with the Mercy Drive-based Army gang, allegedly led by fellow rapper Jacquavius “9lokkNine” Smith.
Law enforcement blamed the feud for the deaths of several innocent bystanders, including Ocoee High School football star Dexter Rentz Jr., who had a football scholarship to the University of Louisville, and 16-year-old Tavyiah King, niece of former Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill.
Read more Florida lawmakers reach deal to reverse HIV drug cuts, step up oversight of spending
Walker spent more than two years in the Orange County Jail while facing a RICO charge, but that charge was dropped as part of a plea deal which saw Walker plead guilty to a count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity. He was sentenced to time served, which was 805 days, and given five years probation.
He walked out of the jail on Sept. 11, 2024, and quickly put out a new song titled “9/11 (First Day Out)”, where he sang “D.A. tryna legislate, I’m still screamin’, ‘F*ck the state.’” The song garnered over a million views on YouTube within a week of his release. The music video featured footage of him exiting the jail and embracing Mazin along with other shots of the jail’s exterior.
But prosecutors alleged Walker violated his probation following his release by meeting with accused members of the 438 gang. The violation stems from a Facebook post showing Walker taking a photo with two men who law enforcement said are 438 members, according to Mazin.
Mazin said Walker was getting a haircut at a home in the Central Florida area the day of his release when the two men walked in. He said Walker “knew of” the men but didn’t invite them to the home. They ultimately ended up taking a photo together, which he said happens often as many people want to snap pics with a local celebrity.
He built upon arguments he had made in Walker’s RICO case that the 438 weren’t a gang, but a hashtag used to represent the Pine Hills area where Walker was a native. He argued that Walker hadn’t knowingly associated with alleged gang members because he wouldn’t be able to know who law enforcement designates as gang members.
Mazin said the judge agreed to the six months he recommended instead of the 48-month sentence requested by prosecutors. He added that prosecutors had alleged two additional probation violations, but he was able to get them dismissed.
Read more South Carolina Senate rejects Trump’s call to redraw congressional map for midterm elections