Warrants allege rapper Rick Ross assaulted a man inside a guesthouse at his Fayette County estate earlier this month, chipped the man’s teeth with a handgun and injured his jaw so badly that he was “restricted to soft foods and liquid diet.”
Ross, 39, and bodyguard Nadrian Lateef James were arrested "without incident" Wednesday morning after U.S. Marshals swarmed the entertainer's home, the palatial 235-acre Fayetteville estate formerly owned by boxer Evander Holyfield. Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and kidnapping.
James, 42, was charged with aggravated battery and kidnapping.
According to arrest warrants issued by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from an incident on the morning of June 7.
During the encounter, Ross allegedly hit the male victim “in the head and body” with a Glock 9mm handgun, chipping two teeth and causing jaw and neck injuries as well as “multiple scratches and contusions.” James is accused of assaulting the man as well.
“The victim lost use of his jaw and is restricted to soft foods and liquid diet only as a result of not being able to chew food,” arrest warrants state.
The kidnapping charges filed against Ross and James stem from the victim allegedly being forced into a guesthouse bedroom and “questioned under duress and forced to answer questions at gunpoint.”
What may have led to the encounter was unclear. Channel 2 Action News reported that the alleged victim was believed to be working on Ross’ home.
Ross and James were both denied bond during an initial hearing Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed. They will remain in the Fayette County jail until July 1, when they are scheduled to go before a superior court judge.
The founder of Maybach Music Group, Ross is perhaps best known for his 2006 single “Hustlin’.” He was raised near Miami but had lived in metro Atlanta for several years before purchasing Holyfield’s former home last year.
Wednesday’s arrest was Ross’ second in Fayette County in two weeks, and at least his fifth run-in with law enforcement.
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