Fact check: Rapper NBA YoungBoy not dead in jail cell, official says

The claim: NBA YoungBoy was found dead in his jail cell

A month after rapper NBA YoungBoy was arrested and taken into custody in Louisiana, a Facebook post falsely says the rapper was found dead in his jail cell.

The image is a screenshot of an apparent news report, which reads: “The worlds biggest artist NBA YOUNGBOY who’s real name is Kentrell DeSeaun Gaulden was found dead in his cell earlier today.” 

The image was shared May 19, and it doesn’t offer any sources that corroborate the claim.

USA TODAY reached out to the poster for comment. 

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But it’s an unfounded rumor: Gaulden is still in jail, law enforcement officials in Louisiana confirmed.

Gaulden alive, officials confirm

Similar rumors about the rapper’s death have been shared on social media before, but just like this one, they are false.

Gaulden was not found dead in his cell, Greg Moroux, chief legal counsel at St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, told USA TODAY.

Gaulden was incarcerated at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center on April 13, where he’s still in custody as of May 26, according to the custody record.

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Gaulden, 21, was arrested in California in March after fleeing from police, WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, La., reported. He had an outstanding warrant on drug- and weapons-related charges from a September 2020 arrest in Baton Rouge, where he’s from. 

Gaulden was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and is in custody awaiting trial, which is scheduled for mid-June.

Our rating: False

We rate the claim that Gaulden was found dead in his jail cell FALSE, based on our research. The St. Martin’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, in charge of the facility he’s held at, told USA TODAY the claims are untrue.

Our fact-check sources:

  • WBRZ-TV, April 15, Baton Rouge rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads not guilty to federal weapons charges
  • St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail Roster, accessed May 26, Kentrell Desean Gaulden
  • Gregory Moroux, May 21, Email exchange with USA TODAY
  • NBA YoungBoy Official group, Jan. 29, Christo Tapa Kentrell post
  • NBA YoungBoy QUOTES, Dec. 23, 2020, Broke Boy post
  • ABC WBRZ 2, Sept. 29, 2020, PHOTOS: Police release records, new details in rapper NBA YoungBoy’s arrest Monday  night
  • Wall Street Journal, Feb. 19, 2020, The Biggest Music Star You’ve Never Heard of Is Huge on YouTube

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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

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