Coolio pleads guilty to cocaine possession
LOS ANGELES -- Rapper Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, entered a guilty plea Friday to a single felony count of cocaine possession, authorities said.
The 45-year-old hip-hop artist was arrested March 6 at LAX after airport officials found cocaine in his luggage, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said in a written statement.
Ivey was initially also charged with misdemeanor counts of battery -- for allegedly grabbing the airport official's arm to prevent the search of his luggage -- and possession of a smoking device, however those charges were dropped as part of Friday's plea deal, Robison said.
Ivey was ordered to enter an 18-month drug rehabilitation program, and can request the case be dismissed after successfully completing it, authorities said.
The rapper is due back at LAX Superior Court on Sept. 28 for a progress report.
*ABOVE: AP photo of "Coolio"
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
U gotta be kidding, is today April 1st?