LAS VEGAS — Philthy Rich, the Oakland rapper who is also known as an anti-violence spokesman, has pleaded guilty to attempting to illegally buy guns in Nevada with the help of a straw purchaser, court records show.
The famed rapper, whose real name is Phillip Beasley, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm. His signed plea agreement admits the general allegations — that Beasley used co-defendant Jasmine Garcia to buy guns in her name and transfer them to him, knowing Beasley was listed as a “prohibited person” and unable to lawfully buy guns. Garcia has also pleaded guilty for her role.
Though both have entered guilty pleas to the same scheme, the proposed sentences differ — prosecutors have agreed to give Garcia “time served,” meaning she won’t serve any jail time provided she doesn’t get caught breaking the law between now and her sentencing date. Beasley’s agreement, by contrast, says prosecutors will seek a “low-end” prison term for him, with the final decision being up to a federal judge; however, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Las Vegas hasn’t said specifically how much prison time will be sought.
Beasley’s sentencing date was tentatively set for June 21. Even if he is sent to prison, it won’t necessarily be automatic; a judge could incarcerate him immediately or give him a turn-in date several months down the line.
The case has been active since 2021. The charging documents stated that Garcia and Beasley went to Precision Armory in Las Vegas to buy three pistols, and that Garcia filled out forms purporting the guns were for her, while Beasley watched. Surveillance video from the store shows the two there.
In April 2022, a federal judge denied a defense motion to dismiss the charges, which argued that because the government had failed to preserve the timestamps on the surveillance video, the defendants’ constitutional rights to due process had been violated.
Beasley, 40, is an Oakland native whose rap career started in 2007. He rose to prominence despite a lack of airplay on traditional media, like radio and MTV, and continues to put out songs that are streamed and downloaded millions of times. He’s also been an outspoken youth mentor who talks about his own criminal history and growing up in Seminary in East Oakland to dissuade others from going down the wrong path.
While rumors of heavy involvement in criminal activity have seemed to follow Beasley throughout his career, his actual criminal record is minimal. He has no adult criminal convictions in Alameda County, and his last high-profile arrest came nearly a decade ago, when San Francisco police booked him for allegedly driving a stolen Bentley while on probation for gun charges. In social media posts, he said the Bentley was his.
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