SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Rapper Torrence “Boosie” Hatch Jr. is facing new charges in connection to his arrest in San Diego last year, less than two weeks after a federal judge threw out the previous case against him, court filings show.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath’s office filed another indictment against the 41-year-old on Friday for two counts of firearm possession — one involving interstate commerce as a convicted felon and one for knowingly possessing a firearm while dealing with abuse of a controlled substance.
He was previously charged with possession of a firearm as a felon in interstate commerce, but the case was dismissed earlier this month due to a recent federal court precedent that found the law unconstitutional as it applies to those convicted of non-violent crimes.
According to the new indictment, federal prosecutors are reasserting the allegations against Hatch at the center of his previous case to seek court-mandated forfeiture of “all firearms and ammunition involved in the commission of the offenses.”
He could also face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted on the second charge of unlawful possession while dealing with substance abuse.
In a post on the social media platform X Wednesday morning, Hatch decried the new charges saying, “IM ON VACATION WITH MY FAMILY MY LAWYER CALL ME N SAY THIS FEDERAL PROSECUTOR … HAS INDICTED ME AGAIN ON THE SAME CHARGE … THIS POINT YOU MAKING THIS A CIRCUS.” The post also had the accompanying hashtag, “justiceforboosie.”
Hatch, who is based in Louisiana, has been in the midst of an ongoing legal tangle in San Diego for over a year, following his arrest by police in the Chollas View neighborhood in May 2023. He had apparently been in town to film a music video and perform at a local club.
San Diego police first became involved after officers viewing an Instagram livestream saw a man with a black handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants in the backyard of a residence, according to court documents.
The man was later identified as Hatch, who had left the scene when officers arrived. SDPD then tracked him down using a helicopter and conducted a traffic stop. According to prosecutors, two loaded handguns were found in the back of the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, Hatch’s body guard, was also taken into custody as a result of the incident, but was not charged.
Local prosecutors first attempted to bring firearm possession charges against Hatch. When those were dropped, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took over the case, re-arresting the rapper on June 14 under a warrant for a similar federal charge.
Hatch pleaded not guilty to the federal charge in June and was released on a $100,000 bond shortly after. When that case was dismissed, he posted an Instagram video from the lazy river at San Diego’s Sycuan Casino Resort, apparently celebrating its end.
He is expected to be in a San Diego County federal court for another arraignment on Aug. 2, according to court records.
Hatch, who has had multiple stage names over the years like “Lil Boosie” and “Boosie Badazz,” is known for songs like “Wipe Me Down” and “Set It Off.”
Over the years, the rapper has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, including at least one case where he was accused of a violent crime, but he has only been convicted of and incarcerated for non-violent, felony drug charges.
