Rapper Nelly arrested after winning jackpots at casino

Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell I. Haynes Jr., was arrested at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday morning at a Missouri casino after some jackpot wins apparently triggered a background check that revealed an outstanding warrant for not having proof of car insurance.

Haynes's lawyer Scott Rosenblum said an officer supervising the money transfer told him that jackpots above a certain amount trigger background checks.

When Haynes was arrested, he was searched and four pills thought to be ecstasy were found on him, which could trigger a drug possession charge.

Rosenblum is crying foul over the arrest, saying that Haynes won bigger jackpots the week before at a different casino and no background checks were triggered in that instance.

Was it a fair arrest?

Rosenblum also noted that Haynes frequently goes to the casino, and has entertained there.

“Under similar circumstances, assuming there was an old warrant without any notice to the individual for no proof of insurance, any other citizen would have been told to address it and allowed to go on their way," Rosenblum said in a statement.

“It is also important to note that Mr. Haynes, as part of the requirements to travel internationally, is regularly asked to supply proof of no warrants, including FBI checks. There were none," he added.

“I am 100% confident this case will go nowhere. And we will be asking for an inquiry into this officer’s conduct," he concluded.

Haynes was released shortly after his arrest but was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

No stranger to law enforcement

Haynes is no stranger to law enforcement and arrests.

He faced several charges of sexual assault from women in the UK, but the charges were dropped when the women refused to testify.

When several women sued Haynes for the incidents in civil court, he countersued them and all of the charges ended up being dropped on all sides.

He settled another similar lawsuit in 2018.

In 2019, Haynes said he "stands with women" who have been assaulted and continued to claim innocence of any wrongdoing.