What Happened to William Leonard Roberts II (Rick Ross)?

Rick Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, first encountered a high-profile battery charge in June 2015. The incident involved Jonathan Zamudio, a groundskeeper at Ross's sprawling Fayetteville, Georgia, estate, formerly owned by boxer Evander Holyfield. Ross and his bodyguard, Nadrian James, were accused of assaulting Zamudio after he allegedly threw a party at the estate without permission. The allegations included holding Zamudio at gunpoint, forcing him into a guesthouse, and pistol-whipping him, causing injuries such as chipped teeth, a jaw injury, and neck trauma that restricted him to a liquid diet.

Ross and James were arrested on June 24, 2015, facing serious felony charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. Ross was initially denied bond due to the severity of the kidnapping charge in Georgia, which carries potential penalties of life imprisonment or death. He was later released on July 1, 2015, after posting a substantial $2 million bond and agreeing to 24-hour electronic GPS monitoring. Ross's legal team, led by Steve Sadow, maintained that the rapper acted in self-defense, claiming Zamudio was trespassing and committing felonies on his property. Ross even filed a countersuit against Zamudio, alleging the groundskeeper fabricated the story and was conspiring with rapper 50 Cent.

In March 2016, a Fayette County Grand Jury formally indicted Ross and James on multiple charges, including two counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery, and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The legal proceedings continued, with Ross's defense seeking immunity from prosecution under Georgia's 'Stand Your Ground' law.

The case reached a resolution on April 4, 2017, when Ross and James entered no-contest pleas. Ross pleaded no contest to one felony count of aggravated assault, and five misdemeanors, including assault, battery, and two counts of pointing a pistol at another person. The more severe felony charges, including kidnapping, were dropped as part of the plea agreement. Ross was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. He also received credit for time served (one week in jail) and was sentenced as a first-time offender, meaning the felony conviction would be removed from his record upon payment of the fine. His probation did not include travel restrictions.

Current Status (October 1, 2026): As of today, October 1, 2026, Rick Ross is facing new legal challenges. He was arrested in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on domestic violence-related charges. The charges include a felony count of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge. This arrest follows recent public allegations of physical abuse made by his former girlfriend, model Jazzma Kendrick, on social media. Kendrick reportedly shared details of alleged abuse, including a photo of a bruised lip, stating, "He saw a punching bag." Ross was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a total bond set at $6,000. His attorney, Steve Sadow, released a statement denying the allegations, claiming Ross is being wrongfully accused and that the ex-girlfriend did not file a police report until a month after the alleged incident. Ross has pleaded not guilty, and his arraignment is scheduled for October 22, 2026.