Quando Rondo Pleads Guilty In Fed Case
Quando Rondo has officially pleaded guilty in the federal case that accused the rapper of being involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to WTOC, the Georgia rapper entered his plea during a court hearing on Tuesday (August 13) – after previously having come to a plea agreement for a lesser charge back in June.
Rondo was initially facing up to 20 years in prison after being arrested along with 18 other men last June on charges of weapon possession, drug conspiracy and participating in gang activity. As part of the agreement, however, he now only faces up to five years in prison .
A pre-sentencing investigation will now follow, with Rondo scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge on December 12.
Talking to reporters at a press conference at the conclusion of court, the rapper apologized to his hometown and his family and friends.
“I really wanna give an apology to the city of Savannah,” he said. “And I wanna give an apology to my family and friends, loved ones and most of all my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point.”
When arrested, Rondo (real name Tyquian Bowman) was charged with 14 counts including possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, as well as conspiring with others to possess and distribute drugs including methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana.
He was previously charged with two counts of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s controlled substances law, one count of participating in criminal activity affiliated with a street gang, and one count of illegal use of a cell phone to facilitate a drug deal.
The 25-year-old was released from jail on bond shortly before Christmas after paying $100,000 bail.
Quando was then put on house arrest and had a number of bail conditions he had to strictly adhere to including enrolling in substance abuse treatment, surrendering his passport, having his location monitored, avoiding contact with any victims, witnesses or co-defendants and not changing his phone number.