Celebrities appear on screen or stage in popular culture while trading their craft. However, at the center of fame, some crossed the line and faced the law by serving jail sentences.
These celebrities were once people we looked up to, serving jail time shows they are not above the law. While some were able to leave, there are many more who are still behind bars and are likely to be there for a long time.
Celebrities Who Are in Prison
1. R.Kelly
Dubbed the king of R nB, Robert Sylvester Kelly also known as R. Kelly is serving a 31-year prison sentence for child pornography, sex trafficking, and racketeering.
In the early 90s, the I Believe I Can Fly crooner had a controversial relationship with an underage Aaliyah but the case died after the marriage was annulled in 1995.
Starting from 2002, the singer started having clashes with the law after he was indicted of child pornography. He escaped the charge by posting a bail of $750, 000.
He was arrested and charged with pornography in 2008 but was acquitted. His issues kept recurring and finally, he was arrested in 2019 on numerous federal charges due to his relationships with minors dating back to the 90s, racketeering, and obstruction of justice.
This time around, he was found guilty on 6 counts of child pornography and enticing a minor. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison which will be served concurrently with an initial 30 years for racketeering. Also, he will serve an additional 1 year consecutive sentence.
2. Harvey Weinstein
The film producer Harvey Weinstein was once a name that opened doors for many young creatives in Hollywood till his fall from grace. He is serving a 23-year jail term for one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
At the peak of his power, Weinstein controlled Miramax and the Weinstein Company through which many films were produced. However, the actors that participated in these productions had sad tales to tell which date back to the 90s.
First, an investigation by the New York Times and New Yorker in 2017 exposed allegations of sexual assault and harassment from many women against Weinstein leading to the #MeToo movement. Since then, many women came forward.
After his conviction in 2020, Weinstein was extradited to Los Angeles to face more charges. He was tried in Los Angeles in 2023 for a criminal sexual act and found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault. The former entertainment magnet was sentenced to 16 additional years even though he maintains that he is innocent.
3. Suge Knight
The American music executive, Marion Hugh ‘Suge’ Knight Jr. was the CEO of Death Row Records at the height of his fame but is currently behind bars serving a 28-year sentence.
The 59–year-old Knight was charged and found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Terry Carter.
The sad incident happened in January 2015 during the filming of Straight Outta’ Compton after an altercation that led to his crashing his pickup into Terry Carter and Cle ‘Bone’ Sloane.
During the trial, he was found guilty but the former music mogul blamed famed rapper, Dr. Dre for landing in jail. According to Knight, it was a murder-for-hire case instigated by Dre. The victims were allegedly hired to k*ll him by Dre.
As of this writing, Knight is an inmate at the Ronald J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
4. Tory Lanes
The rapper is serving a 10-year jail time without bond after he was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic handgun, gross negligence in the discharging of firearms, and an unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
His case dates back to 2020 when he shot his then-love interest and fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The pair were leaving a party in Hollywood when the Big Ole Freak rapper decided she was not leaving with him.
As she tried to walk away, Lanes shot her in the foot but when she revealed what happened many accused her of lying.
Thankfully, the law was on her side. Tory was arrested, charged, and found guilty.
Since his sentencing, the Canadian rapper has pushed for bail. According to bail motions, he got married while in jail and wanted bail to be with his family.
5. Jared Fogle
It’s been over 7 years since Jared Fogle stepped behind bars. The former Subway spokesperson was sentenced in 2015 to more than 15 years for child pornography as well as paying for sex with minors over state lines.
he confessed to the crime involving 14 victims and his possession of over 400 illicit pornography. He was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay $1.4 million restitution to his victims.
6. Shannon Richardson
If you think the actress’s 18-year sentence is harsh, you must consider the details. She was criminally charged for possession of a toxin for use as a weapon.
The Walking Death actress created the toxin in the home she shared with her then-husband, Nathan Richardson. After which, she sent ricin-laced letters to US President Barrack Obama, Michael Bloomberg, and Mark Glaze intending to frame her husband.
It turns out that the couple was going through a divorce and she resorted to blackmail to get at him.
When she called the police in May 2013 to report Richardson regarding the mailed letters, they arrested her after discovering that she was the one who mailed them.
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7. William Hayden
William Hayden, the former Discovery Channel reality star of Sons of Guns which aired between 2011 and 2014 Discovery Channel is serving three simultaneous life sentences and an additional 40 years for forcible and aggravated rape.
Followers of the reality series were taken with William Hayden, the owner of a weapons store in Louisiana.
However, behind his screen fame, Hayden had a dark side that only came to the limelight after a series of arrests in 2014, right about when the show ended.
He was arrested for multiple sexual assaults of minors in 2013 and 2014. In another instance, he had assaulted a minor in the 90s when she was about 12/13 years old. Finally, his daughter also accused him of sexually assaulting her.
8. Zachary Avery
The former actor and producer was living and enjoying the fame that comes with being a celebrity when he got entangled in a securities fraud. He is currently serving a 20-year sentence after he was found guilty in 2022.
His case dates back to 2013 when Zachary Avery defrauded investors of $227 million through a Ponzi scheme dating back in 2013.
9. Darren Sharper
Unlike most celebrities on this list, Darren Sharper was a former American professional player who is serving a 20-year sentence for aggravated rape.
The former football safety enjoyed a successful career and played for teams like the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans before he retired in 2010.
sadly, his clean career record came undone in 2011 when it came to light that he had drugged and raped several women across different states.
He was charged to court in 2014 and was prosecuted in California, Louisiana, Arizona, and Nevada. He pleaded guilty in all states and is to serve his sentences concurrently.
10. Joe Exotic
Joe Exotic, The Tiger King fell on the wrong side of the law in 2020 when he was convicted of falsifying wildlife records and hiring hitmen to k*ll Carole Baskin.
Exotic had been in and out of controversies regarding how he ran his park and feuds with others.
However, the one with Baskin was the most serious. He was arrested for attempting to hire two hitmen to kill his rival in 2019. Exotic was found guilty on two counts of hiring someone to murder eight counts of violating the Lacey Act, and nine counts of violating the Engendered Species Act by killing five tigers.
He was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment and is scheduled to be released in 2035.
